EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis): You can watch the video below with AB Elpidophoros’ remarks at the Leadership 100 Conference regarding the New Charter before you read the excellent analysis by Jackie Morfesis. I have to say it’s hard to count how misguided the Archbishop is in addressing such a serious issue. Here are a few points:
- First, he threw out (last summer in the C-L conference) the survey results that proved for all to see the OVERWHELMING demand from the faithful for an INDEPENDENT Orthodox Church of America. He stood at the podium the true Phanariot than he is, as I was watching in disbelief, and discredited the whole survey as “divisive”… Just because the results did not fit his “tale”…
- What is this tale? The tale is that our Church in America needs the Patriarchate and the Patriarchate needs us… Only the second part of this equation is true: The Patriarchate needs to milk us because it consists of a bunch of useless, faithless, degenerate Metropolitans… It is not me who has suddenly come to “judge” them… It was the Foreign Minister of Greece, Theodoros Pangalos, who caught a group of them enjoying a lavish vacation in the most expensive Hotel in Paris – and as a result, he suspended the $10 million annually of assistance of Greece to the Patriarchate. But of course, we have other evidence: We have a Patriarch who, instead of living a monastic life in humility, bought a multi-million dollar mansion (with money from Greek-American donations!!) in the best neighborhood of Istanbul!!
- We do not need the Patriarchate – we need Christ and Faith!! This is why hundreds and thousands of faithful flock regularly to the monasteries – and any other church they can find. They are thirsty for the Word of Christ and cannot find it in GOARCH!!
- We had enough of the politicization of our Faith by Bartholomew and Elpidophoros!! We do not need you to be agents of the State Department!! We need you to be Apostles of Christ – but you can’t!!
- Finally and above all, we do not follow our children – we guide our children to faith and morality. Our children are being abducted by the disgusting “woke” ideology that pushes degenerate examples of homosexuality in the school system. Our role is to guide them back to our faith…
For the rest of this issue, please read Jackie Morfesis’ essay…
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No Archbishop Elpidophoros, Our Faith is Christ – Not Culture
By Jackie Morfesis
Once more with hope against hope, with an open heart, I listened to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros’ address at the Leadership 100 Conference which took place February 2 – February 5, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona. And once again, my heart sank because his presentation: “Vision for a New GOA Charter” did not speak words of power and life, but words seeped and mired in secularist and woke ideology.
It didn’t take long for him to say the word “privileged.” I was waiting for it, and it came within the first few minutes. He admits his “privilege” in his opening statement. Had this been a game show – a rubber bird would have come down from the ceiling or the magic word would have brought a monetary reward or a new appliance.
He spoke at length about the Archdiocese being one together – with the Patriarchate. He mentioned various leaders, and the notion of leadership, but not once, not once did he mention our true leader, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though he did demand that his name and Patriarch Bartholomew’s name be commemorated at every liturgy of the Greek Orthodox Church.
He spoke of generations within the church. Grandparents, parents, and children. But in doing so, he negated and dishonored the ground on which our ancestors stood and laid the foundation of his thesis in these following words:
“Look at your children. They are beyond. They are where I want our Archdiocese to be in the next 100 years. We are not there where our children are and then we wonder why they are not with us, why they are not attending the churches, why they are not attending the projects, because if we don’t follow their steps and reach out to where they are, then we are staying behind. We think we are successful, but we are losing the momentum and we are losing the present and the future.”
Let us begin to unpack this with God’s Word: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Archbishop Elpidophoros said that we have to “follow their steps.” Really? This is our faith? Following the steps of the youth? Because in his words, they are “beyond?” No sir, we follow no one’s steps but our Lord and Savior. It is His steps we are to follow as Orthodox Christians. We do not have to be “woke”, we are “awake” in Christ. How can the spiritual leader of North and South America of the G.O.A. not mention my Lord once in his address?
It’s possible because the foundation of his address was not resting on God’s Word, but on man’s. Not on God’s Law, but on man’s. Our faith is Christ not culture. Must we say it again? Our faith is Christ not culture.
We do not win hearts nor souls by pandering to the changing times, the shifting culture, new political ideologies and narratives. Nor with “newspeak.” We reach souls the way they have been reached for thousands of years and will be reached till we with God’s grace take our place with Him in eternity, through the good news and message of salvation that is Jesus Christ, our Lord. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Do you want to see our youth engaged? Do you want to see our youth coming to church and participating in programs? Then do something that sets their souls on fire for God and for others. Show them the true freedom that is Christ Jesus. Freedom from bondage. Freedom from sin. Give our youth the tools they need in today’s world as a Christian instead of trying to make them a person ruled by the world.
Show our youth that the faith walk is more than learning Greek folk dances. The faith walk is more than volunteering at our annual Greek festivals and serving gyro sandwiches. The faith walk is becoming the person God intends us to be and to know that He has a plan and purpose for each of us as told to us in Jeremiah 29:11.
Start instilling the fire in our youth by giving them real power and purpose in God’s kingdom. Teach them God’s Holy Word. Tell them their true identity in Jesus: His child, ambassador in the Kingdom, and disciple. The archbishop wants to outreach to the “African American and Spanish communities”. Start outreaching to your own communities! Stop speaking continued sinfulness over God’s children – when Christ went to Calvary to save us from sin. We are saved – God is waiting for us to have bold faith not be shamed into silence. We cannot even converse about God because we don’t even know His Word or that we are in a personal relationship with Him.
Do you have any idea what the “youth” are doing in other churches? They do hands on outreach, not just collecting cans of food for G.O.Y.A. They serve their communities. They are utilizing their talents for the kingdom. They know how to pray for others, they are spiritual warriors – even adults in the Orthodox Church do not even know they are spiritual warriors, nor how to armor up, much less our youth. They know how to trust God, how to navigate the murky waters of life, not jumping on every boat that passes by, but by steadying their lives with the anchor that is unmovable. I have heard that Orthodox priests are “front-liners.” Guess what? We are all front-liners for Christ. We serve God by following God. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
Unlike the sheep that follow the Lord – hundreds of sheep clapped on cue – for Archbishop Elpidophoros when he said we “must follow in the footsteps of the youth.” Not one person in attendance at the Leadership 100 conference stood to contest or rebuke these words of Archbishop Elpidophoros. Why? Where was their courage? Do they not even know who they follow as a Christian? Were they impressed and even shamed because the archbishop said the youth are “beyond?” Beyond what? Beyond the faith? Beyond the Word of God? We must meld, conform, and rework Orthodoxy to “fit” today’s ever-changing narrative? No sir. God does not change – we are changed by knowing God. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
No Archbishop Elpidophoros, I do not follow the youth. I do not follow any leader. I do not follow anyone but my God. Your address was given without one word and praise to my God – without resting on God’s Word, without making a passionate and emphatic call to uplift, inspire, and move the faithful to deeper intimacy with the Lord. This is not only telling, it is tragically just one more step in the wrong direction by both Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. God have mercy.
Excellent points made by Helleniscope and Jackie.
Those in “positions of church leadership” have literally commandeered what God gave through His Son, a simple, direct, unencumbered relationship with Him, and have fashioned unto themselves their idol, their golden calf, their own little kingdoms in which they can rule, control, and exercise dominion, unfettered! ( statement from Wicked Shepherds )
Elpi uses the children just like the US government is using them for political gain. Elpi is a lackey for the State Department. Stop the brainwash!
Jane, thank you for your comment. I too, noticed that the archbishop mentioned earthly “kingdoms” but that he conveniently did not speak to God’s kingdom.
Well stated! Same goes for government dictators a d their lackeys burying the Constitution. We reap what we sow. The majority of US citizens sow apathy. Football and shopping takes precedence.
Amen!
Please read his arch pastoral address at the leadership 100 conference. It is Christ centered and what I hope for from a hierarch. I am no apologist for Elpi but was impressed with that presentation.
Our faith is not “compartmentalized.” God’s gets the glory every time not sometime. The Charter presentation did not give one reference to the faith nor to God. This is the point of this article. Without God as the foundation – the house is built on sand not rock and will not stand when the storm comes.
St. Elias has been on my mind quite a bit over the last couple of years. There are several aspects of his story that, I think, are relevant to our situation.
The first is that he, too, despaired of the society aound him – he thought he was the only one left faithful to God – but he remained faithful and did not change his message to make it more acceptable to those around him. I think, hy today’s standards one coyld say that St. Elias was one of most politically incorrect and insensitive people in the Bible. But he was taken up in the chariot and is one of the most beloved saints of the church.
The second thing is that, when he despaired, God revealed to him that there were 7000 people still faithful to God. If 7000 in the entire world was sufficient for God then, then it would be enough now. The lesson for me is that numbers are God’s business – he is the one giving the increase. Our business is to be as faithful as St. Elias. At least, that’s the way I see it.
Thank you, Fr. Peter, for your comment. And thank you for having the courage to respond as a clergy member – when many if not close to all are silent as the G.O.A. is being undermined and our churches are spiritually attacked, many times from within. However, fair to say that those who speak up do not believe we are the “only faithful ones” as you mention about St. Elias. Christ came for the sinful not the sinless – we are all created by God. “Judge not according to appearance, but judge by righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
I would also disagree that our “business is to be as faithful as St. Elias.” Our faith walk is not predicated nor limited by the life of any saint – our faith is commissioned to be in the fullness that is Jesus Christ. I do not “follow” the saints – they are examples of faith – but they too fell short in their lives – many were examples of great sinfulness till God transformed their hearts and souls. They followed Christ. So should we. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
{outside of Billy Graham}
Joel Osteen who tested negative as Christian
& television’s long list of crooked evangelicals???
No match for Orthodox SAINTS!!
Evangelicals never did miracles
like 💯% saints.
Aristedes, there are miracles right now in Jesus’ name across this nation and across the world. I have been first-hand witness to all manner of diseases being cured. This is not a competition. God works through everyone – including “Evangelicals.” Jesus said to lay hands and heal in my name – Mark 16:17-18. Jesus went to the cross for all of God’s children – not just Orthodox Christians. Miracles did not end with the saints. We do not have the right to speak words that doubt God’s power or blessing over anyone – at anytime, by anyone. Praise God! To God be the glory!
How cringeworthy!
That Bartholomew milks the faithful and buys a multi million dollar mansion?
No different than evangelical tv hustlers;
so what will it take to divorce ourselves like Papa Lefteris did?
Marjorie Taylor Green says red states need to divorce from blue states… I agree and
Orthodox need divorce from Constantinople.
Zoey, “evangelical” is a Greek word coming from evangelion, the “good news.” All Christians are called to be evangelical and share the good news!
how obscene Elpi glorifies Patriarch
instead of revering Christ & standing for Christ
&
this gang is symbolic of Lucifer
competing with God – it won’t end well
Elpi apes the monolith of power that is the Roman Church, and the way they commemorate in the Mass: not just the local hierarch, but up to the pope. So he who fancies being the “Pope of the East” is being framed in that way, and Elpi is aligning everything, including retiring good clergy, to make way for the lackies he’s been bringing in from overseas, to feather the throne since he fancies himself the heir apparent to Bart’s job.
Appreciate Fr. Peter Andronache’s
pithy words not to despair as
we are far more than 7,000!
& if Elias went thru darkness we can too.
Excellent & important article from both Nick & Jackie exposing the unholy mess GOA has produced: the mercenary betrayal of Orthodox faith by aligning with the
Godless Left.
It is shameful how today’s Greek Orthodox Church has become. They are seeking converts while ignoring the Ancient Greek language or the Greek community that built the church. We need GOD more than ever in our lives than Greek dancing competition. They cater to the State Department’s agenda to demonize Orthodox Russia while giving service to Anti-Orthodox Christian Nazi Zelensky! Zelensky is part of the Khazarian Mafia that has destroyed Ukraine. Why does he apologize for promoting the Kill Shots known as ‘Covid-19 vaccine’? Why does apologize for supporting the Satanist BLM movement that killed people and burned cities across America in order to destroy our local police departments while promoting chaos/violence/anger.
Spartacus preach!
Absolutely disgraceful this godless Zelensky manchild collecting billions $$
from America’s stupid liberals but for U.S. military they get nothing.
As for immature lefty Elpidoforos marching with BLM, the dude must feel pathetic discovering it’s total scam…
Elps lives in ivory castle, removed from reality – who’s advising him? Rasputin?
Where is Jesus Christ in this conversation? Oh, sorry. The archbishop does not engage in conversations. He need not converse because he is infallible. Yes, a pope ala Francis. Where are the saints? Ss Paul, Peter, and Maximus the Confessor. The archbishop is certainly not a confessor. Where’s St Nectarios? — a real saint willing to sacrifice for the Truth and his people. The archbishop doesn’t invoke The Way of The Saints to guide us into the future. The Saints are our Church, Faith, and life. God does not change [period]. The Saints do not change [period]. To abandon our Faith and redefine it is heresy. Beware of wolves. Give them not your treasure and soul lest you be swallowed for eternity. Turn to Christ and His Saints, The Way.
Fr Constantine, the saints are not our faith, life and our church as you state-Jesus is our faith, life and church. It is He who is the cornerstone and the one thing needful. Yes, the saints are examples but Jesus is the foundation.
JK – give attention to details:
Rev. Constantine knows Christ is All!
Rev. is just defending role of saints bc evangelicals diminish them;
no matter how many healings evangelicals do in groups & that’s great, absolutely, I’ve seen power of prayer in groups work!
Yes,
but Orthodox saints are far & away as individuals very advanced spiritually & do Greater, supernatural feats!
They’re walking talking Christs.
Read up on their lives –
For example:
St. Porphyrios & St. Paisios & the famous Elder Ephraim of AZ were seen in two places at same time;
they could materialize food out of thin air, they could tell strangers at first sight their names & every detail of
their personal lives; they could heal by a touch, they could be invisible if they chose & many saints already dead have appeared on earth to the living! There’s more to list but I don’t have time here.
Most important, Saints are perfected role models for us & can intervene
Mr. Gatanas, exactly, I gave attention to details. Read what the priest wrote. Saints are important examples and intercessors but they are not faith , life and church. Ultimately, saints are forgiven sinners. Without God’s continued forgiveness there are no saints.
No JK – you don’t understand.
Saints are ultimate spiritual mentors & role models bc
they’ve reached Theosis —
no amount of reading words in a book compares to testimony of living human beings who’ve achieved Theosis.
Humans like us who struggled but achieved the holy grail:
THEOSIS.
Agree.
Western (modern day) arguments are not relevant to historical Eastern Truths. (See below.) No. No. This is a serious eschatological problem.
For at least a century, governance in the Greek Church has been led by careerists, not monastics who are elected bishop against their will, who go on to build up the faithful and protect them from the wolves who don’t spare the flock, who are strong yet humble spiritual men, who were revealed to the Church as saints. Since Archbishop Athenagoras was elected EP in 1948, given passage to Istanbul in President Harry Truman’s plane, and met on the tarmac with a Turkish passport, the State Department has recognized the EP as an asset. Wikileaks laid some of that out a few years ago. When I look to the examples of St. Nektarios and such, I’m reminded that vile leaders at the helm of the Church don’t get in the way of pious men and women becoming saints. We have a choice as far as taking personal action, to fight the good fight or join another Orthodox jurisdiction. But remember the grass looks greener on the other side. Also to consider: If we get the leaders we deserve, what does that say about us and our spiritual governability? The Greek Archdiocese has been pushing Hellenism over Christ for decades now. What we’re seeing is nothing new. It is, as is happening in so many other quarters, an embodiment of what has been the trend, but now more blatant and cynical. We should not be shocked.
Well stated! Same goes for government dictators a d their lackeys burying the Constitution. We reap what we sow. The majority of US citizens sow apathy. Football and shopping takes precedence.
Your words about St. Nektarios are so true. Yet imagine how the faithful would be emboldened if “the leaders at the helm” were on fire with the Holy Spirit. Including the 100 Leaders at the Vision Conference who did not speak up to defend our Lord and His Bride, the Church, during the archbishop’s address. We only need look at other churches to know how vital and imperative this is to the faith walk.
Thank you Jackie for having the stomach to listen to the speech and give commentary.
ABs attempt to crapfit Orthodoxy to the infrastructure of the antichrist does not sit well with the remnant.
(Imho) God allows these things due to our sin and in accordance with the end times. The sheep will cling more closely to Christ, the goats will keep wandering to the other way.
Me too, I refuse to listen to this heretic and glad Jackie was sacrificial lamb to suffer it for us. How unbelievable Elps is still here?
For some, perhaps the saints are not of your faith. For those of us who treasure and live the Orthodox faith, the saints are saints because of their love for and the grace of Jesus Christ. The saints are our spiritual ancestry, in many cases establishing lanes in the road to heaven (the Ladder), helping us to understand The Faith and Christ’s love for each of us. To deny in any measure or any degree the role of the saints is to deny Christ, the Bible, & the saints therein, charged by Christ Himself to carry forth the Eternal Word. Any denunciation or reduction of the role of saints = Protestantism, which emanates solely from the West and has no counterpart in the East, except within one Patriarchate. Very simply, Western arguments do not transcend Eastern truths. “Orthodox Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried” G.K. Chesterton. Granted, Chesterton was writing about Roman Catholicism at the time, a faith he would not recognize today. Even less would he recognize Protestantism, in it various thousands of versions wherein every minister is a pope unto themselves. But I would say Chesterton’s words do apply to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and have no issue appropriating them for the East today; except in the realms wherein heresy reigns and minor and major popes worship mammon, secular movements, and Western Governments. The latter is the real issue with the (above) speech in question—and its followers, i.e., metropolitans, bishops, and others.
In this Lenten season, allow us to worship and fast in peace, and seek the intercession of all the saints who have, with God’s grace, kept us in “right worship”— orthodoxos, “of the right opinion”, true doctrine and its adherents as opposed to heterodox or heretical doctrines and their adherents. (The word was first used in early 4th-century Christianity by the Greek Fathers.)
May St John Climacus (of the Ladder) protect us!
May St Andrew of Crete protect us!
May the Theotokos protect us!
Lord have mercy on us!
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
With all due respect, Fr. Constantine, for you to accuse anyone of “denying Christ and the Bible” because they see our Lord, first and foremost as the High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), and worship only Him, as the triune God, is not the “peace” that you offer to us at the end of your argument (John 17:3). In fact, it is among the greatest spiritual attack possible against the faithful, especially during this Holy Lenten season (Ephesians 6:12). I rebuke in Jesus’ name any such accusation against my brothers and sisters in Christ, Orthodox and non-Orthodox here and around the world.
The “saints”, of which we are all called to be (Romans 1:17, 1 Corinthians 1:2), are throughout God’s Holy Word and in eternity. No one here is negating nor denying their devotion to our Lord nor purpose in His kingdom. The great sin is not even knowing that the same Holy Spirit given to them is the same Holy Spirit given to us (John 14:18-21). Miracles did not end with the saints (Mark 16:17-18). Nor did intimacy with our Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5).
May we have passion for God’s Word, so that we may hunger for His Word and know our rightful place as His child, ambassador in His kingdom, spiritual and prayer warrior, and disciple. May we not only know our identity in Christ – but His plan and purpose for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). May we know “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (Isaiah 44:6). God protect us. Lord have mercy.
I hear you and understand your Western argument. It is argued well in the West. Sola scriptura.
The East has a wholly different theological tradition and language, incomprehensible to the West. The East’s passion is more fulsome and encompassing. That’s is why there is no dialogue.
Nevertheless, thank you for quoting all of the saints who have allowed us to understand the wholesomeness of life.
And thank you for quoting it from our Bible, which came from the East.
Fr Constantine, I am not a Protestant and do not put the emphasis on the saints as you do. Christ is my life, my faith and my church not the saints. The saints are examples of faith not the the faith itself. They point us to Christ. Read St Porphirios, his faith is centered on Christ and the scriptures with little to no mention of the saints. Read Chrysostom, no mention of saints in his writings only the scriptures. I believe you are promoting an idolatry of the saints.
Thanks be to you Fr. Constantine,
it’s impossible to relate essence of Orthodoxy to Westerners – unless they’ve done extensive study & have a close mentoring by a genuine Orthodox Elder
Sir Gatanas, thank you. This site was recommended to me so that I might follow the current issues confronting our Faith. I quickly learned that on the site there are those not of or understanding our Faith, yet proselytizing non-Orthodox beliefs. Why?
Let us be generous but not distracted by the noise. There are real dangers in the noise.
Being an Orthodox Christian is a lifelong journey. It is not a series of Biblical quotes. The Bible is a product of Holy Tradition and was not codified until the 4th century…the list of canonical books were first articulated by Ss. Athanasius & Augustine. And although the list of canonical texts spread widely, it took time for the texts to follow and spread across Christendom. During the first four centuries the Church did not stand still, saints abounded, an untold number of martyrs died, and theology was fleshed out.
The Bible is not the Quran and it is sad to see it use it in such a manner.
Let us return to the topic at hand—the above speech and issues within Orthodoxy. The issues must be resolved by Orthodox Christians for Orthodox Christians. Not by governments and those who have no knowledge, understanding, or comprehension of “being Orthodox.” Orthodoxy is a way of life. Pray. Pray hard. Life is an eternal catechism.
“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25
Given all is not written, we seek revelation from His saints.
“Christian perfection therefore requires a whole series of efforts until it is attained. The Apostle Paul compares these strivings with the training that athletes employ to get in shape in order to win. Without referring to the word asceticism, St. Paul used the image of the ancient physical exercises to characterize the efforts made by the Christian to reach perfection. Clement of Alexandria and Origen later introduced the terms of asceticism and ascetic. Little by little in the East they gained a monastic coloring. Monasteries are called askitiria, places for physical training. The askitis (the ascetic) is the monk who strives to obtain perfection by observing all the rules of restraint or temperance through cleansing from the passions. Origen calls zealous Christians ascetics; they are disciplining themselves to mortify the passions and develop good habits that lead to perfection.
“St. Neilos the Ascetic in his ‘On Asceticism’ gives us a detailed comparison of the spiritual ascetic with the athlete in the arena. Asceticism then is that part of spirituality that deals with the rules and efforts that bring man to the first step of the ascent to perfection, to contemplation and union with God. Asceticism is the active part of the spiritual life, the self-coercion and cooperative part that God requires of us. Yet the mystical union with God is also a result of the passive bearing of the work of grace in us. Now God takes the initiative. We have only to follow. It belongs to Him alone.
“Protestant theologians accentuate the word as an exclusive means of divine revelation, not only to exclude the possibility of a direct revelation of God but also to avoid its confusion with a self-revelation of some substratum of our nature . . . Thus for example, they say that the word spoken by Jesus Christ bears nothing in it of His divinity:it has a purely intellectual meaning. So the revelation Jesus Christ is no longer the piercing of a world new in time; it is the communication of a truth addressed to man’s knowledge. It doesn’t contain any sign that it is from God, no power which shows its divine origin. These theologians don’t only exclude every psychism26 that pertains to the soul from the content of this word and from the process of its reception; for them it has no task of a spiritual nature, which would show it to be a word coming from God. The clinching of man to revelation takes place by an exclusive act of knowledge. This is what faith is.
“Asceticism is the “slaying of death” in us, to liberate our nature from its bondage, as St. Maximus the Confessor points out. There are really two deaths: The first is produced by sin and is the death of our nature. The second is a death like Christ’s, which is the death of sin and the death produced by it.” See “Orthodox Spirituality: A Practical Guide for the Faithful and a Definitive Manual for the Scholar” by Dumitru Staniloae
Just a sample of the depth of Orthodoxy.
“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25
Given all is not written, we seek revelation from His saints.
“Christian perfection therefore requires a whole series of efforts until it is attained. The Apostle Paul compares these strivings with the training that athletes employ to get in shape in order to win. Without referring to the word asceticism, St. Paul used the image of the ancient physical exercises to characterize the efforts made by the Christian to reach perfection. Clement of Alexandria and Origen later introduced the terms of asceticism and ascetic. Little by little in the East they gained a monastic coloring. Monasteries are called askitiria, places for physical training. The askitis (the ascetic) is the monk who strives to obtain perfection by observing all the rules of restraint or temperance through cleansing from the passions. Origen calls zealous Christians ascetics; they are disciplining themselves to mortify the passions and develop good habits that lead to perfection.
“St. Neilos the Ascetic in his ‘On Asceticism’ gives us a detailed comparison of the spiritual ascetic with the athlete in the arena. Asceticism then is that part of spirituality that deals with the rules and efforts that bring man to the first step of the ascent to perfection, to contemplation and union with God. Asceticism is the active part of the spiritual life, the self-coercion and cooperative part that God requires of us. Yet the mystical union with God is also a result of the passive bearing of the work of grace in us. Now God takes the initiative. We have only to follow. It belongs to Him alone.”
“Protestant theologians accentuate the word as an exclusive means of divine revelation, not only to exclude the possibility of a direct revelation of God but also to avoid its confusion with a self-revelation of some substratum of our nature . . . Thus for example, they say that the word spoken by Jesus Christ bears nothing in it of His divinity:it has a purely intellectual meaning. So the revelation Jesus Christ is no longer the piercing of a world new in time; it is the communication of a truth addressed to man’s knowledge. It doesn’t contain any sign that it is from God, no power which shows its divine origin. These theologians don’t only exclude every psychism26 that pertains to the soul from the content of this word and from the process of its reception; for them it has no task of a spiritual nature, which would show it to be a word coming from God. The clinching of man to revelation takes place by an exclusive act of knowledge. This is what faith is.
“Asceticism is the “slaying of death” in us, to liberate our nature from its bondage, as St. Maximus the Confessor points out. There are really two deaths: The first is produced by sin and is the death of our nature. The second is a death like Christ’s, which is the death of sin and the death produced by it.” See “Orthodox Spirituality: A Practical Guide for the Faithful and a Definitive Manual for the Scholar” by Dumitru Staniloae
Just a sample of the depth of Orthodoxy.
Fr Constantine, I wish could understand what you are trying to say-it is above my pay grade. I understand the spiritual struggle of a Christian to put to death the old man and live as a new man in Christ. Saints are examples of the struggle; nevertheless, they are forgiven sinners. No one earns their salvation. Salvation is through faith in Christ. Any one who says they are without sin is a liar(1John chapter one).St Paul identifies himself as the worst of all sinners. No one except Christ is sinless. Even His mother needed salvation through her son.
JK, bless you for your faith and humility. And your obedience to God’s Word. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8). Not only the saints – but every single repentant soul is an example and “made a new creature in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is not the Light of the saints – it is the Light of Christ they emanate. Woe to those who do not know this simple yet profound truth. It is the work of the enemy (demonic) to convince us otherwise. To God be the glory!
When an individual or group of Orthodox remove themselves from the Holy Tradition of the Church, the outcome will be to acquiesce and be shaped by the culture. That misstep produces Bishops who oversee seminaries that produce priests who are also shared by the culture. The fruit of that is shaping parishes that are so far removed from Holy Tradition that Historic Orthodoxy stikes them as bazaar. This is where much of the GOA finds itself today. There is a solution: read the Fathers, visit monasteries and rediscover the Faith of your Fathers. It is life giving.
I regret reading this comment section!
If there is a hard schism, the GOA will be decimated. The monasteries, good priests, and faithful laity would likely leave in droves and what would remain of the EP/GOA would be pitiful. If it implodes, hopefully that would create an opportunity for something much better and more beautiful to be built. There is (right now) still One Orthodox Church and the saints are with us, no matter what some are doing. Maybe this is a time to do what we can in our parishes to stand for Orthodoxy and fight the good fight.
Thank you Fr. David: “There is a solution: read the Fathers, visit monasteries and rediscover the Faith of your Fathers. It is life giving.”
You do not have to regret the comment section. Instead, you can view it as a safety valve and as a warning signal. It is a necessary form of expression where all can say their thoughts sincerely and truthfully. Without the truth, we are lost – and I am sure we can find quite a few biblical passages to go along these thoughts…