Category: faith

Without getting into the specifics as the facts are not fully known at this time. What is fairly certain is the fact the Greek Orthodox Archbishop has now chosen to abrogate the Archdiocesan charter without consulting the members of the Holy Synod or the faithful. In other words, more controversy within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

This is on top of the scandals involving Saint Nicholas Shrine and the near bankruptcy of the Archdiocese itself. At a time when the faithful have serious anxieties owing to the coronavirus and the political upheavals in America, and the possibility of a Greek war with Turkey, one would think the leadership at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Archdiocese would have greater empathy for the Greek Orthodox faithful. Apparently, the Archdiocese and by extension the Patriarchate do not grasp the realities under which we are all living.

A spiritual shepherd would be looking to give assurances to the faithful of the Archdiocese not to despair under the present difficulties. Assurances would be given that the light of Christ always manifests itself even during the times of darkness. The faithful would be encouraged to persevere and to endure the hardship in expectation of better things to come through the miraculous glory of Jesus Christ our King and our God.

That the Archdiocese continues to antagonize the faithful and to create new problems on top of the old is beyond comprehension. In any case, we can all be assured that the head of the Church is Jesus Christ. We can also be assured by the fact that there are in the Church today untold numbers of living Saints not yet recognized as such.

During the twentieth century we have seen wonderful people of God including Saint Nektarios of Aegina (himself having endured difficulties with Church officials). We also have the examples of Saint Tikhon of Moscow and other Russian clerics who were martyred by the Communists but who endured their suffering to the end with Christian endurance. There are also the examples of Saint Chrysostom of Smyrna who was butchered by the Turks after refusing opportunities to save himself in order to remain with his flock.

During the Second World War, there was the example of Saint Maria Skoptskova, a Russian nun from Paris who died at a Nazi death camp because of her activities in assisting French Jews. There are no shortages of Saints who have lived remarkable and self less lives many of whom suffered horribly at the end in witness to Christ and for the love of other human beings.

We must remember the examples of Christ, the Apostles, and the Saints during these difficult times of disease and upheavals. We especially consider the examples of Christ and the Saints even as we remain baffled and perplexed by the ongoing chaos of the Archdiocese.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has announced it will petition the United Nations to pressure Turkey to respect the Great Church of Hagia Sophia. This is a welcome move and it is truly a good thing to see that the effort to protect Hagia Sophia has not dissipated. Hagia Sophia cannot be abandoned to its fate under the Erdogan government in Turkey.

The Hellenic world has united against Turkey in an unprecedented way. The Turkish aggression against Hagia Sophia is in many ways inseparable from Ankara’s aggressions against Greece and Cyprus. Whatever may come from this appeal to the United Nations it will bring attention to the UN that Hagia Sophia is historically, culturally, and spiritually a Church.

I disagree with much that is taking place at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, but I believe that the Archdiocese is on the right track regarding its activities pertaining to Hagia Sophia. Now if the Archdiocese could support religious freedom for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church that is under persecution in Ukraine, this would be good news as well and would strengthen the moral case for protecting Hagia Sophia while ending the schism that threatens the unity of Orthodoxy.

The Orthodox Times has criticized the Moscow Patriarchate by accusing the Russian Church of “attacking” the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This is in fact untrue. The Russian Church has criticized the Turkish government for the most recent outrage of the Erdogan government which has converted the historic Church of the Savior at Chora.

The Russian Church stated that the Ecumenical Patriarchate was not content with being “first among equals” and created division. This is true considering the destruction and chaos that has ensued in Ukraine. The canonical Ukrainian Church is facing persecution from schismatics linked to extremist groups.

All this is true, and it is to the credit of the Russian Church that it has condemned the conversion of the Chora Church as it has the conversion of Hagia Sophia. This latest outrage on the part of the Turkish authorities is further evidence that the schism in Orthodoxy over the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s intervention in Ukraine must come to an end. The Greek world faces serious threats from Turkey, including Ankara’s territorial claims on the Greek islands and the continental shelf.

The Greek world does not need the schism and its aftereffects. The Ecumenical Patriarch needs to settle this schism by convening a Pan Orthodox Council that would rule on the Ukrainian situation. It should be remembered that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraged Patriarch Bartholomew to invade the Russian Church’s territory in Ukraine.

What exactly has the State Department done to save Hagia Sophia or the Christ the Savior Church in Chora? It should be remembered that the State Department under John Foster Dulles in 1955 failed to even condemn the anti Greek pogroms in Constantinople that set the stage for the destruction of the Patriarchate’s flock. The State Department has done nothing for the theological school of Halki either.

The Greek world is suffering the loss of important shrines in Constantinople. Both Greece and Cyprus are are the targets of Turkish aggression. The Greek world needs to remain on friendly terms with America, Russia, Europe, and other parties in order to resist Turkey.

Resolving the Ukrainian Church dispute according to the ruling of a pan Orthodox synod will remove a spiritual crisis from the Greek Churches and restore their relations with the Russian Church and the other local Churches. It is time to end this Ukrainian Church crisis and for Constantinople’s “supporters” to stop with the cheap shots at the Russian Church.

The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America appeared at the Democratic National Convention and offered a prayer for Presidential nominee Joe Biden. On the one hand, we are taught by the Church to pray for our leaders irrespective of ideology or party affiliation. During the divine liturgy bishops and priests always pray for the head of state irrespective of political affiliation.

It is one thing to pray for our President whoever it may be in Church services. It is quite another to pray for a Presidential candidate who represents a political party that is fervently anti Christian. One could argue he is simply offering up a blessing to a man who may be elected to the Presidency. We will see if the Archbishop will be at the Republican National Convention to offer up prayers for the current President.

Greek Orthodox faithful in America should be concerned about the Democratic Party. The Democrats are rabidly anti Christian. Groups such as “antifa” and “black lives matter” make up a huge part of the base of the Democratic Party. The burning of Bibles by these groups should be condemned by all Orthodox faithful. The Archbishop could have inspired confidence had he taken a brief moment to condemn the burning of Bibles.

In addition to the sacrilege against the holy scriptures, the Democratic Party supports infanticide, sex changes for children, and many of its officials who serve as Mayors throughout America ordered the Police to stand down as rioters destroyed public and private property. The base of the Democratic Party incited hatred of the Police and demands the “defunding” or outright abolition of the Police.

Such a disturbing agenda should be a cause for protests by the Greek Orthodox hierarchy. There are other reasons to be concerned about a Biden administration. As Senator, Joe Biden supported the bombing of Serbia and the seizure of Kosovo from Orthodox Serbia. Serbs became the victims of ethnic cleansing following the withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo and it should not be forgotten that NATO bombed Serbia on Orthodox Easter.

As Vice President, Joe Biden supported the destruction of Syria which led to the near genocide of the Orthodox (and other) Christians of Syria. Joe Biden was part of an administration that included neoconservatives such as Victoria Nuland and Geoffrey Pyatt who instigated the conflict in Ukraine in 2014. In addition, Joe Biden has made statements supporting the “autocephaly” of the pseudo “church” in Ukraine, a matter he has no business commenting on.

On Greek matters, Joe Biden has done nothing for Greece. His advocacy as Vice President in the Obama administration led to the refugee crisis from Syria which flooded the Greek islands with refugees. At no point, did the Obama administration reverse Washington’s traditional pro Turkish policies. There is no shortage of reasons why Greek Orthodox should be distrustful of the Democratic Party.

Perhaps his Eminence was just bestowing a friendly blessing. In that case it will be well and good if his Eminence is present at the Republican National Convention to ensure that the Archdiocese is not becoming involved in partisan politics.

The Hagia Sophia diaries are special posts regarding updated news on developments regarding the Great Church of Constantinople.

The United Nations has now weighed in on the matter of Hagia Sophia. The special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief at the UN has criticized the Turkish government’s conversion of the Great Church into a Mosque. In addition the special rapporteur in the field of cultural rights has added to the criticism of Turkey.

President Erdogan’s conversion of Hagia Sophia has brought notoriety to his regime. In further developments in Turkey, President Erdogan has announced that Patriarch Bartholomew will be permitted to resume liturgical services at the Monastery of Panaghia Soumela on August 15, the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Ten years ago, the Erdogan government permitted services at the Monastery once a year on August 15. In 2015, liturgical services were stopped as renovations that began at the Monastery have now been completed. In 2010, when liturgical services were permitted, it was in fact a generous act on the part of the Turkish government.

At present, in the context of the conversion of Hagia Sophia, the liturgical services at Panagia Soumela cannot be construed as a generous act. The Erdogan government understands the emotional spiritual, and historic attachment that Christians have to Hagia Sophia.

The Greek government has been discussing the possibility of sanctions against Turkey. A good idea but there needs to be a good plan and serious action intended to follow up on the rhetoric. Greece has made surprisingly strong statements on the issue of Hagia Sophia. It would be a waste of an opportunity if Athens failed to follow up on the rhetoric.

In other news, the Russians plan to build a replica of Hagia Sophia in Syria. This plan is full of political significance. Russia defeated Turkey in Syria, and Russia is again demonstrating its position as the defender of Orthodox Christianity.

Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev has expressed criticism of the Turkish plans to convert Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. This is especially significant as the Metropolitan is the spiritual leader of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church that has been facing persecution in Ukraine by the followers of the schismatic and illegitimate “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is recognized by the Orthodox world as the legitimate Church in Ukraine.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church until 2018 when it reversed itself and recognized the schismatic Bishops thus triggering a crisis in Eastern Orthodoxy.