ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΜΕΤΑΦΡΑΣΗ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΕΙ
By Nick Stamatakis
As was largely expected and as Helleniscope reported, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, in its special meeting today in Athens, condemned AB Elpidophoros for the baptism of the two children of the gay couple and sent two letters of condemnation, one to Elpidophoros personally and one to the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The latter is scheduled to convene this Thursday, July 21st, and is expected to make serious decisions on the Charter of GOARCH. But since the actions of the Archbishop have truly placed him under scrutiny, with the overwhelming majority of the faithful demanding his resignation, it is generally expected that AB Elpidophoros will be forced to end his tenure in America one way or the other.
The Holy Synod of Athens declared that they remain “firm in what was determined by the Lord, the Holy Apostles and the Holy Fathers” regarding the issue of homosexuality…
During the Synod of the Church of Greece, Metropolitan of Aigialias Amvrosios scathingly denounced Elpidophoros:
a) for betraying our immaculate Faith,
b) for violating the Holy Canons, and
c) for scandalizing the conscience of the faithful children of the Church
Please link here to see Met. Amvrosios full letter.
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece fell short of harsher actions they could have taken, but they definitely passed the baton to the Patriarchate, which will have to make serious decisions; it is clear that the days of Elpidophoros in America are over. Patriarch Bartholomew is credited with one more mistake in his 30-yr tragic tenure, and he will have to make up for it with a break from his usual path. First, he will have to let GOARCH in the way of autonomy (in the model of the Autocephalous Church of Crete), and second, he will have to pick a true “Man of God” as a leader for this Church – instead of the circle of homosexuals he has appointed elsewhere and above all Emmanuel (formerly of France and now of Chalcedon). Helleniscope has proposed (as we did before the election of Elpidophoros in 2019) Metropolitan of Mesogaias Nikolaos (please see our recent posts).
Let me clarify here that it is not simply homosexuality that we oppose as condemned by our faith, but (as it unfortunately happened in the recent baptism by Elpidophoros in Greece) we protest the flashy declarations and “pride” in this marginal human “identity”. All are accepted to save their souls into our Church – no exceptions! But the Church is about Christ, not marginal aberrations of nature and even more marginal identities… This “flashy” approach to homosexual behavior of Patriarchate hierarchs was notoriously exposed in the scandal of Paris when Emmanuel and Maximos (then – 2019 – Metropolitan and his assistant) invited Bulgarian male escorts into the building of Metropolis, and there is a written report of the French Police on the issue. Then, Pat. Bartholomew, instead of sending them to Mt.Athos to repent, promoted them!!
He has to take a different path now!! He has to take a position on homosexuality. In earlier years, we could find videos online where the Patriarch condemned homosexuality, following our Faith. Not anymore!! The Patriarch has to make the right choices now bringing to America the best Orthodoxy has to offer!!
July 18, 2022, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
AT THE END OF THIS POST YOU CAN SEE THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF GREECE IN ENGLISH AND IN GREEK
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Η Ιερά Σύνοδος της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος καταδικάζει τον Αρχ. Ελπιδοφόρο
Όπως ήταν σε μεγάλο βαθμό αναμενόμενο και όπως μετέδωσε το Helleniscope, η Ιερά Σύνοδος της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος, στην ειδική συνεδρίασή της σήμερα στην Αθήνα, καταδίκασε τον Αρχ.. Ελπιδοφόρος για τη βάφτιση των δύο παιδιών του ομοφυλόφιλου ζευγαριού και έστειλε δύο επιστολές διαμαρτυρίας, μία προς αυτόν και μία και προς την Ιερά Σύνοδο του Πατριαρχείου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως. Η τελευταία έχει προγραμματιστεί να συνεδριάσει αυτήν την Πέμπτη 21 Ιουλίου και αναμένεται να λάβει σοβαρές αποφάσεις για τον Καταστατικό Χάρτη της Αρχιεπισκοπής. Επειδή όμως οι ενέργειες του Αρχιεπισκόπου τον έθεσαν πραγματικά υπό έλεγχο, με τη συντριπτική πλειοψηφία των πιστών να ζητά την παραίτησή του, αναμένεται ευρέως ότι ο Αρχ. Ελπιδοφόρος θα αναγκαστεί να τερματίσει τη θητεία του στην Αμερική με τον ένα ή τον άλλο τρόπο.
Η Ιερά Σύνοδος των Αθηνών δήλωσε ότι παραμένουν «σταθεροί σε ό,τι ορίστηκε από τον Κύριο, τους Αγίους Αποστόλους και τους Αγίους Πατέρες» για το θέμα της ομοφυλοφιλίας…
Κατά τη διάρκεια της Συνόδου της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος, ο Μητροπολίτης Αιγιαλείας Αμβρόσιος κατήγγειλε δριμύτατα τον Ελπιδοφόρο:
α) για την προδοσία της αμόλυντης πίστης μας,
β) για παράβαση των Ιερών Κανόνων, και
γ) για σκανδαλισμό της συνείδησης των πιστών τέκνων της Εκκλησίας
Παρακαλώ συνδεθείτε εδώ για να δείτε την επιστολή του Mητ. Αμβρόσιου
Η Ιερά Σύνοδος της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος δεν προχώρησε σε πιο σκληρές ενέργειες που θα μπορούσε να είχαν κάνει, αλλά σίγουρα πέρασαν τη σκυτάλη στο Πατριαρχείο, το οποίο θα πρέπει να λάβει σοβαρές αποφάσεις. Είναι ξεκάθαρο ότι οι μέρες του Ελπιδοφόρου στην Αμερική έχουν τελειώσει. Ο Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος πιστώνεται ένα ακόμη λάθος στην 30χρονη τραγική θητεία του και θα πρέπει να το επανορθώσει με αλλαγή πορείας. Πρώτον, θα πρέπει να οδηγήσει της Αρχιεπισκοπή Αμερικής στον δρόμο της αυτονομίας (κατά το πρότυπο της Αυτοκέφαλης Εκκλησίας της Κρήτης) και δεύτερον, θα πρέπει να επιλέξει έναν αληθινό «Άνθρωπο του Θεού» ως ηγέτη αυτής της Εκκλησίας – αντί για τον κύκλο ομοφυλόφιλων που έχει διορίσει αλλού και πάνω από τον Εμμανουήλ (πρώην Γαλλίας και τώρα Χαλκηδόνας). Το Helleniscope πρότεινε (όπως κάναμε πριν την εκλογή Ελπιδοφόρου το 2019) τον Μητροπολίτη Μεσογαίας Νικόλαο (δείτε τις πρόσφατες αναρτήσεις μας).
Να διευκρινίσω εδώ ότι δεν αντιτιθέμεθα απλώς στην ομοφυλοφιλία ως καταδικασμένη από την πίστη μας, αλλά (όπως δυστυχώς συνέβη στην πρόσφατη βάπτιση του Ελπιδοφόρου στην Ελλάδα) διαμαρτυρόμαστε για τις κραυγαλέες διακηρύξεις και την «υπερηφάνεια» για αυτή την περιθωριακή ανθρώπινη «ταυτότητα». Όλοι γίνονται δεκτοί να σώσουν τις ψυχές τους στην Εκκλησία μας – χωρίς εξαιρέσεις! Αλλά η Εκκλησία είναι για τον Χριστό, όχι για περιθωριακές εκτροπές της φύσης και ακόμη πιο περιθωριακές ταυτότητες… Αυτή η «φανταχτερή» προσέγγιση της ομοφυλοφιλικής συμπεριφοράς των ιεραρχών του Πατριαρχείου αποκαλύφθηκε περιβόητα στο σκάνδαλο του Παρισιού όταν Εμμανουήλ και Μάξιμος (τότε – 2019 – Μητροπολίτης και βοηθός του) προσκάλεσε Βούλγαρους άνδρες συνοδούς στο κτίριο της Μητρόπολης Παρισίων και υπάρχει γραπτή αναφορά της Γαλλικής Αστυνομίας για το θέμα. Στη συνέχεια ο Πατ. Βαρθολομαίος αντί να τους στείλει στο Άγιο Όρος να μετανοήσουν τους προβίβασε!!
Πρέπει να πάρει άλλο δρόμο τώρα!! Πρέπει να πάρει θέση για την ομοφυλοφιλία. Τα παλαιότερα χρόνια, βρίσκαμε στο διαδίκτυο βίντεο όπου ο Πατριάρχης καταδίκαζε την ομοφυλοφιλία, ακολουθώντας την πίστη μας. Οχι πια!! Τότε ο Πατριάρχης πρέπει να κάνει τις σωστές επιλογές φέρνοντας στην Αμερική ότι καλύτερο έχει να προσφέρει η Ορθοδοξία!!
July 18, 2022, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
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BELOW YOU CAN SEE THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF GREECE IN ENGLISH AND IN GREEK
“…To send a letter of protest to the His Eminence Archbishop of America Mr. Elpidophoros for what the His Eminence Metropolitan of Glyfada, Hellinikon, Voula, Vouliagmeni and Vari Mr. Antonios reported in writing (S.S. Report of Glyfada to the 1st Synod), in relation to the holding of the Holy Sacrament of the Baptism of two infants in Vouliagmeni, as well as a relevant letter to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under whose canonical jurisdiction the Archbishop of America falls.
At the same time, the Holy Synod discussed at length the issues related to the pastoral treatment of such issues, remaining firm in what was determined by the Lord, the Holy Apostles and the Holy Fathers.
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Να αποστείλει επιστολή διαμαρτυρίας προς τον Σεβασμιώτατο Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αμερικής κ. Ελπιδοφόρο για όσα εγγράφως ανέφερε ο Σεβασμιώτατος Μητροπολίτης Γλυφάδας, Ελληνικού, Βούλας, Βουλιαγμένης και Βάρης κ. Αντώνιος (Σ.Σ. Αναφορά του Γλυφάδας στην Ι. Σύνοδο),σε σχέση με την τέλεση Ιερού Μυστηρίου του Βαπτίσματος δύο βρεφών στην Βουλιαγμένη, καθώς και σχετική επιστολή προς το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο, στην κανονική δικαιοδοσία του οποίου υπάγεται ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής.
Ταυτόχρονα, η Ιερά Σύνοδος συζήτησε εκτενώς τα ζητήματα που αφορούν στην ποιμαντική αντιμετώπιση τέτοιων ζητημάτων, παραμένουσα σταθερή στα υπό του Κυρίου, των Αγίων Αποστόλων και των Αγίων Πατέρων ορισθέντα.
No facts about what the letter of the synod actually said, just a conflation of quoted statements out of the context of the entirety of the letter. If you are going to report, then report the facts please, not your interpretation of them. Ambrosios is a former metropolitan, wrote his letter on July 12, and you make it sound as if his letter is the statement of the synod and that he was present at the synodal meeting.
The same report as ours – the same exact announcement (it was a paragraph) – was published everywhere in Greek media. The synod will not publicize its minutes despite what you may think. Amvrosios’ letter was addressing the Holy Synod as dis Met. Antonios of Glyfada’s letter. The letter became known today…
Welcome to the facts that Helleniscope reports!
The title is not supported by the facts contained in the article. We applaud your zest and zeal… but please avoid s sensatiôalizing, distorting and misrepresenting. You want to protect your credibility
The choice was between “protest” and “condemn”. I followed my journalistic instincts and all the information I had and chose condemn. It was the right choice considering that numerous metropolitans in Greece stated during the Synid that they will not accept Elpidophoros performing any service within their districts.
Hey Papman :
are you the whining
glorified homo from Pappas Post?
Listen, people are fed up with your ilk’s
dirty agenda; it wasn’t enough y’all got
legalized gay unions making mockery of
God’s divine plan for true marriage,
now you take advantage,
using surrogates to birth babies deprived of a mother. Evil!
Hahaha! Great response! Bravo!
No, I am not connected to the Pappas Post in any way.
Time will tell whether the condemnation made by the Holy Synod of Greece will impact or affect the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s decision. These men are thick-skinned, they stick to their guns with loyalty t to the cheap McDonald’s GOARCH while exhibiting indifference to the faithful with their self-aggrandizing propaganda, which goes unnoticed by the sheep who remain asleep in the pews.
I read a recent comment BEINGcirculated among many countless friends, of friends of friends… regarding the public outcries the faithful standing united, upholding alignment with Orthodox Canonical Laws which were violated and brought public humiliation world-wide to the Greek Orthodox Church demanding the resignation of AB. Elpidophoros and Pat. Bartholomew:
“Do not waste your time.
This is nonsense.
Ignore is best action.
Irrelevant people trying
to make themselves relevant.
All is well in our church.”
God bless our church in America
and our Archbishop as we begin our 2nd 100 years of Archdiocese.
Is this how we should remain acting when we see woke politics as having entered into the church of God? Indifferent to God’s will and order as marginalized Christians?
Nick – IF airhead Patriarch & corrupt GOA hucksters do not DEPOSE this vile
disgrace Elpidoforos, then
WE PROTEST TILL THE
CASH COWS GO HOME!!!
Demonstrations should start
all over America & Greece with Signs:
We The People Demand
Resignation Of Elpidoforos!
As I have said, we will give the chance to the so-called “leadership” to do the right thing… If they do not, we will have to decide our course of action…
AMEN Sir Gatanas! No doubt, I have suspicions that there will be more which will soon surface coming into the light about the darkness behind the scenes…
I agree that AB should be removed. But how does Helleniscope quantify: “But since the actions of the Archbishop have truly placed him under scrutiny, with the overwhelming majority of the faithful demanding his resignation, it is generally expected that AB Elpidophoros will be forced to end his tenure in America one way or the other.”
How do you know that the “overwhelming majority of the faithful are demanding his resignation?”
How are you making that determination?
Thank you.
Well, let me explain:
1) First, from the emails and comments that we get – and you can tell that Helleniscope has the numbers to justify this “quantification”…
2) Second, very few, if any, have expressed opinions to the contrary. Even TNH came out yesterday saying that Elpidophoros has to go…
There are additional ways but I am hoping this is enough…
As a journalist, I would caution against such phrasing. I’m on your side, but I can’t tell from reading Helleniscope regularly that your “quantification” is justified. That would mean at least 60 percent, or so, of the 1.5 mullion faithful in America share your views. I’m not saying they don’t. I’m saying your have no way of knowing that without significant polling. Thank you for all your efforts.
It’s way above 60%… Listen, I am probably among the few journalists that have social science methodology training. And not just simply sociology training – which means polling…
I am trained as a social anthropologist and I have used many methods to get the pulse of the people. I had the same question when people were asking me in October 2016 to tell them why am i saying that “the Greek-Americans will vote for Trump overwhelmingly – meaning over 80%”
I said then that my technique is simple – and very anthropological in terms of methodology: I use a certain number of people who I call “thermometers of public opinion”. Who are they? People who get in contact with big numbers of Greek-Americans on a daily basis: Priests and parish council members, presidents and leaders of Greek-American organizations, doctors and lawyers who do heavy business with our community, restaurant owners in heavily Greek areas and people like that. My method is almost fool proof…Much better than any poll…
It will be interesting to see how the Orthodox Christian Mission Center maneuvers around all of these recent GOARCH disasters.
They are pan-Orthodox on paper but are for all practical purposes entirely under the Greek Archdiocese.
I would be worried that their good work will be hampered by their huge attachment to the GOA.
It won’t get hampered. Christianity is a democratic institution… there is hierarchy… but the people decide. It won’t be either the first or the last time Clergy will prove unworthy of their oath and schéma. We can’t allow the cancer to stay within our clergy… of the flock will get divided and disoriented. However remember that slander and gossip come from the Devil… resist it and refuse to propagate false gossip and rumors.
This is very helpful. I appreciate the thorough explanation. From your mouth to God’s ear. Thank you. And Lord have mercy.
Seeing that the canonical overlap situation, here in the States, is one big mess, why can’t the Church of Greece, as an autocephalous Church, take a page out of the EP’s playbook and set up an Omogenia Vicarate here? Following the grave recent actions and concern for our Orthodox Christians of Greek descent… I mean, the AB, as a hierarch to the Ecumenical Patriarch, has shown, time and time again, that his interests lie elsewhere and not people he was entrusted the shepherd.
Every church founded prior to 1922 could revert back to Church of Greece, as it was the founding ecclesiastical body and these can serve as centers to radiate out from.
Is today’s protest still on for 5 p.m., or has it been cancelled?
Is what we thought were the “fringe” 1%- now leading with the alphabetsoupiarithes getting their voices out ahead–drowning out -the once again “silent majority?”
Postponed is the right word… we need to allow the “leadership” to correct themselves. And we need to organize better. Stay tuned… Please email to me participation commitments.
That will be the day… Absolute power corrupts absolutely if our hierarchs has gotten the impression that they are being watched they would behave better. It’s our responsibility to make ourselves visible and audible at least every Sunday at Church… The Church is democratic but democracy is a participation game… abstaining helps the enemies of the Church.
Amen.
Dear Mr. S. –It is well-known that outdoor weddings are not allowed here, (U.S.) in our Church– are they allowed in Mykonos?
Apparently money can buy anything