Category: faith

Celebrations are due to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Tragically, there is nothing for any Orthodox Christian to celebrate. On this anniversary, the Orthodox Church faces a schism that could very well become permanent and irreversible. The tenure of Patriarch Bartholomew that began promisingly will end in the total destruction of Orthodox unity, the destruction of the Greek speaking Churches and Mount Athos, and the destruction of the Church of Constantinople itself.

In March 1992, only a few months after becoming Patriarch, Bartholomew presides over a rare gathering of Orthodox primates in Constantinople. Only the Archbishop of Cyprus and the the Georgian Patriarch were absent. The Churches at the time agreed by consensus to terminate all discussions with the Vatican except on the matter of the Uniates (so called “Eastern Catholics”). This was the period when the Soviet Union collapsed and the opportunity to establish real Orthodox unity was at hand.

The primates that met in Constantinople did so under the Presidency of Patriarch Bartholomew in his capacity as “first among equals”. In 1993, Patriarch Bartholomew visited Russia where he was well received. What could have been?

By 1995, Patriarch Bartholomew alienated the Russian Church by establishing a parallel jurisdiction in Estonia. In 2003, Patriarch Bartholomew provoked a reaction from Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens when he began meddling inside the Church of Greece. These were the warning signs of what would come later in Ukraine.

Patriarch Bartholomew had his moments when he concelebrated the liturgy in the long abandoned monasteries and Churches of Trebizond and Cappadocia. He forgot that Russian Church hierarchs were with him when he celebrated the liturgy in those holy places. The Patriarchal reign of Patriarch Bartholomew is a disastrous failure.

In addition to the Ukrainian mess that the Phanar created, the Patriarchate has presided over the destruction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Everything is in ruins! Patriarch Bartholomew has also harmed the Monasteries of Athos and the Church of Greece by making them accomplices to the ecclesiastical crimes in Ukraine.

Patriarch Bartholomew has attempted to hide behind the Greek flag. Greek and non Greek Orthodox are all mistaken if they believe the Patriarch cares about Greece. The appearance of Archbishop Elpidophoros at the Turkish center alongside the ethnic cleansers who preside over the occupation of Cyprus demonstrates how much the Patriarchate cares about Greeks.

For the hierarchs serving Constantinople’s uncanonical expansionism, Greece and Cyprus are useful as weapons in their anti Russian campaign. Beyond that, the Ecumenical Patriarch and his exarch in America have no use for Greece or Cyprus. It is a tragedy that so many Greeks support Patriarch Bartholomew uncritically.

It should be remembered that Patriarch Kyril of Moscow and Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev (the real bishop of Ukraine) congratulated Greece on independence day last March. Guess who did not not? The Ecumenical Patriarch did not.

Patriarch Bartholomew’s primary purpose thirty years ago was to open the theological school of Halki. If he had stuck to fighting for the Patriarchate in Turkey, things might be well today in Orthodoxy. But the Patriarch became a partisan figure demanding complete power and authority over the other Churches.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque was a disaster. The bigger disaster was the downfall of the Church of Constantinople as a result of Patriarch Bartholomew’s anti canonical actions which have resulted in schism. The present situation was not inevitable.

There is only one way out for the Church of Constantinople. Repentance by withdrawing entirely from Ukraine and humbly asking forgiveness from the bishops of Russia, Ukraine, and the whole of Orthodoxy.

The schism in the Orthodox Church is about to get worse. The Russian Orthodox Church has held a conference to address the violation of the canonical borders of Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It has also discussed the issue of the recognition of the schismatic entity of Ukraine by the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Most crucially, Moscow is about to react to the concelebration of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria with the fake bishop of Ukraine on the island of Imbros in August.

Since Alexandria established communion with the Ukrainian schismatics, many African priests have asked Moscow to accept them into the Russian Church. Previous to this, the Patriarchate of Alexandria was at peace with its flock and with all sister Orthodox Churches. When Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople triggered the crisis in Ukraine three years ago, Patriarch Theodore travelled to Ukraine to serve the liturgy with the bishop of the canonical Ukrainian Church.

The Patriarch urged all Ukrainians to remain in the canonical Church of Ukraine. Patriarch Theodore expressed his support for members of the canonical Church who are being persecuted by the Ukrainian government and the schismatics. A year later, Patriarch Theodore inexplicably established communion with the schismatic entity in Ukraine.

Now the crisis has gotten to the point where the Russian Church is going to establish itself in Africa the hitherto territory of Alexandria. Since Moscow broke communion with that ancient Patriarchal see in response to the Patriarch’s recognition of the schismatics all canonical impediments to Africa have been lifted. The ramifications of Patriarch Bartholomew’s desire for power continue.

Patriarch Theodore can stop the further damage to Orthodox unity by immediately reversing his stance on Ukraine. Unlike Patriarch Bartholomew, the Patriarch of Alexandria used to get along with all sister Orthodox Churches. Like the Patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem, Patriarch Theodore used to be warmly received in Moscow by Church and state alike.

Patriarch Theodore would be doing the right thing by reversing his stance on Ukraine. A simple expression of regret and a willingness to break with the Ukrainian schismatics would relieve tensions. Patriarch Bartholomew has made very clear that he is intent on grabbing total power at the expense of Orthodox unity.

Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria has sacrificed his reputation and life’s work in support of Patriarch Bartholomew. He is not the first Orthodox Greek to follow the Ecumenical Patriarch on his destructive path. Abott Ephraim of Vatopaidi Monastery on Mount Athos and some other Athonites were once influential over the whole of Orthodoxy by the examples of their monastic lives and teachings. That influence and respect ended when they chose to support Patriarch Bartholomew’s mad venture in Ukraine.

There are bishops in Greeks who likewise lost their reputations by supporting Patriarch Bartholomew. The Churches of Greece and Cyprus are heavily split because of this Ukrainian issue. Patriarch Bartholomew is destroying Orthodox unity and sacrificing the good names of those who have supported him.

Regrettably, the governments of Cyprus and Greece seem to have reconciled with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. Both Athens and Nicosia seem unwilling to recognize the Phanariots of Constantinople and New York as the sources of destruction and chaos. At the very least, Athens and Nicosia should have made it a point to avoid Archbishop Elpidophoros on any occasion in the future and should have ordered the Archdiocese not to comment on or interfere with Greek and Cypriot diplomatic activities in America.

The Greek government earlier this year pledged two million Euros annually to the Holy Cross theological seminary in Boston. This is indicative of the shamelessness of the crowd at the Archdiocese. They have destroyed their school, the priest pension fund, and the Saint Nicholas Shrine has humiliated the entire Greek Orthodox community in America. The Archdiocese is financially and morally bankrupt.

They get the people of Greece to subsidize Holy Cross School of theology. Did the Greek government ask the people of Greece if they wanted their money to go to any institution of the Archdiocese of America? The Greek government already subsidizes the Ecumenical Patriarchate whose leading hierarch abroad attends ceremonies with leaders of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus.

The schism in Orthodoxy is going to have ramifications for Hellenism and Orthodoxy. Greece and Cyprus need to concentrate on all diplomatic fronts in order to properly deal with the Turkish threat. This means Greece needs to focus on relations with both America and Russia. Greeks should not be split and divided because of Patriarch Bartholomew at a time when Turkey has become more menacing than at any other time since 1974.

Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria should reverse his stance on the matter of the Ukrainian issue. If he were to do that, he will be a hero. Patriarch Bartholomew is protected from his ecclesiastical crimes because he resides in a country that is not Orthodox. Eventually, a major Church council will be held and very likely Patriarch Bartholomew will be deposed.

The Patriarch of Alexandria can distance himself from the whole mess by reversing his stance and offering words of regret and remorse to all Orthodox Churches. He an be an example for the Archbishop of Cyprus and those bishops in Greece who entered into communion with schismatics.

When I first visited the city of Thessaloniki several years ago, I was astounded by the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia. It is a very beautiful cathedral from the Byzantine era. I recall thinking that this would be perfect for use as the Patriarchal Cathedral.

At present, the Greek speaking Churches are in serious disarray. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the instigator of schisms in Eastern Orthodoxy and is preoccupied with grabbing as much power and authority as possible. The Church of Greece is under the leadership of an Archbishop who lacks the leadership abilities of his two immediate predecessors Serapheim and Christodoulos.

Even worse, Archbishop Ieronymos and his synod established communion with the schismatic church in Ukraine that all Churches (including the Greek ones) considered to be without valid ordinations and consecrations. The Archbishop followed the recommendations of the American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and bowed to the pressure tactics of Patriarch Bartholomew. When Patriarch Bartholomew intervened previously in the affairs of the Church of Greece both Archbishops Serapheim and Christodoulos fiercely defended the autocephaly of the Church of Greece.

There would have been no question of either of these Archbishops permitting any secular foreign power to intervene in Church affairs. Unlike Archbishop Christodoulos of blessed memory, Archbishop Ieronymos does not speak on the various issues of the day whether they be social issues, national issues, or other matters. The Church of Greece needs to regain its voice and its independence.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (under Constantinople) in America has been involved in several scandals over the last few years. The Archdiocese has done spiritual harm to its flock, and has also done harm to Greek national issues as well. The visit of Archbishop Elpidophoros to the Turkich Center is demonstrative of how the Archdiocese focuses on one issue alone- the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Otherwise, why would the Archbishop have attended a ceremony attended by the leaders of Turkey and the authorities who govern the Turkish occupied territories of Cyprus. Turkey has been challenging the territorial integrity of Greece.

The place to begin the housecleaning is at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Greek world needs to seriously discuss the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Patriarchate’s status has diminished greatly in the Eastern Orthodox world because of its expansionist policies against other Churches. It has also led the Church of Greece astray and has created division among the members of the Holy Synod in the Church of Cyprus.

The conversion of Saint Justinian’s Hagia Sophia in Constantinople into a Mosque could be an opportunity to come to terms with reality. There was a time when I considered the possibility of moving the Patriarchate from the city of Constantine with horror and revulsion. The events that have played out have necessitated a change in that stance that began when I visited Thessaloniki for the first time.

The Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki is named (just like Justinian’s Church) for Christ himself. The Church of the Holy Wisdom of God. The Turks have taken many Churches named Hagia Sophia and have made them into Mosques in recent years. These include the Churches named Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, Adrianople, Nicea, and Trebizond.

In my view, this makes the Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki even more special. Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki was a Mosque for hundreds of years under the Ottoman yoke (much like Justinian’s Church). However, this is the Hagia Sophia we liberated and restored to Christian worship! This is the FREE HAGIA SOPHIA!

This is the Hagia Sophia we can freely worship in and where Christ is glorified. Might this not be the perfect home for the Ecumenical Patriarchate? There are historical precedents for moving. The Patriarchate of Antioch left that town many centuries ago and has been located in Damascus. When Constantinople was conquered by the Latins in 1204, both Emperor and Patriarch went to exile in Nicea from where both Empire and Church were governed.

There is a case for Thessaloniki to be the home of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Cathedral of Thessaloniki is a symbol of the glory of Christ and also symbolizes the freedom of Greece from the Turks. This is the free Hagia Sophia!

Saint Paul preached and taught in Thessaloniki during the first century. The city contains the relics of Saint Demetrios the Martyr and Saint Gregory Palamas in the beautiful Churches that receive pilgrims from throughout the Orthodox world. Pilgrims visiting Thessaloniki make pilgrimages to the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian outside the city to visit the tomb of Holy Saint Paisios.

Thessaloniki is also close to the Holy Mountain of Athos. The Holy Mountain of Athos has problems and the Monks have become divided as a result of the policies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This along with the other problems facing Greek Orthodoxy mentioned above could be alleviated if the Ecumenical Patriarchate moved to Thessaloniki.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate itself would be officially liberated. It would not be the liberation that Greeks have dreamed about since 1453, but the Great Church would no longer be dependent on the terror of the Turks or be dependent on the foreign policy establishment of the State Department. No Greek wants to turn their back on Constantinople but the reality is that there is no future for Greek Orthodoxy in Erdogan’s Turkey.

In the event that the Ecumenical Patriarchate moved to Greece, there would be a reunion of the mother Church of Constantinople with the daughter Church of Greece. The Patriarch would have a real flock to preside over again and would not have to deal with the evil of the Turkish authorities. The Patriarch would be free to speak!

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese could be reformed with new Bishops coming from Greece and Mount Athos to renew the Archdiocese. Saints Cyril and Methodios left Thessaloniki to convert the Slavs to the Gospel. So it could be that a free Patriarchate in Thessaloniki could send Bishops and Priests to rebuild and reestablish the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese with the aim of building a future American Church as the Patriarchate previously established Churches in Russia and the Balkans.

A house cleaning is in order for the Greek Orthodox world. Let it begin by liberating itself from the Turkish yoke and settling the Ecumenical Patriarchate at Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki. This is the Hagia Sophia Greece took back from the Turks. Using it as the Patriarchal Cathedral would be sending a message to the Turks.

Today is the anniversary of the anti Greek-Christian pogroms that took place in Constantinople in 1955. The Turkish government conducted a terror campaign against the 100,000 or so Christian Greeks that were still living in Constantinople and the islands of Imbros and Tenedos. The motivations for the pogroms emanated from Turkey’s expansionist claims to Cyprus.

In April of 1955, the Greeks of Cyprus revolted against British rule and sought to achieve “enosis” with Greece. The struggle in Cyprus was against the British, not the Turks. The British encouraged Turkey to put fourth claims on Cyprus in order to undermine Greece.

The British also encouraged demonstrations in Turkey to express Turkish feelings for Cyprus. These demonstrations were to lead to the vicious pogroms against Orthodox Greeks in Constantinople. The Turkish government of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes brought in criminal elements from Anatolia and encouraged them to target the Greeks.

Greek homes, Churches, and businesses had crosses painted on them so the thugs would know their targets. The pretext for the terror campaign was the bombing of Mustafa Kemal’s home in Thessaloniki. In reality, the Turks bombed Kemal’s home (which is ajar to the Turkish consulate) and had earlier doctored photographs of the bombing to be carried out so as to be able to quickly incite angry mobs to violence.

The Turkish police were ordered to stand down. The mobs murdered, raped, and tortured. A ninety year old priest named Chrysanthos Mannas was doused with gasoline and burned alive. An elderly Greek woman went insane after being raped. All the property of the Greeks was destroyed in a single night.

At Smyrna, Greek Army officers serving NATO were beaten and neither NATO nor any members of NATO condemned the assaults on their colleagues. In the aftermath of the pogroms, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles wrote an offensive letter to Greek Prime Minister Alexander Papagos asking Greece to drop the matter in favor of NATO solidarity. No condemnation of Turkey or threats for Turkey to improve its human rights record.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate lost much of its remaining flock in the days following the pogroms. Now it must be said that the State Department refused to condemn the devastation agains the flock of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at this time. That should bring the present collaboration of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the State Department in a common anti Russian campaign into greater focus.

In 1955, NATO and the west valued Turkey as a counter to the Soviet Union. Today, Turkey collaborates with ISIS and Al Quada, and NATO refuses to support Greece against the encroachments of its territory by Turkey.

What exactly has changed since 1955?

Under normal circumstances the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Ukraine would be a wonderful thing. Over a thousand years ago, Kiev which was the center of Russia was converted to Christianity by the Great Church of Constantinople. Circumstances are not normal however and so the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine is one of controversy rather than a display of Orthodox unity.

Patriarch Bartholomew was invited to visit Ukraine on the thirtieth anniversary of that country’s independence by President Vladimir Zelensky. The Patriarch met with the fake bishop Epithany Dimenko and the false bishops and clerics. The Patriarch completely avoided the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its legitimate synod and faithful.

An organized group of laypeople who are part of the legitimate Church sent a “tomos” of their own to Patriarch Bartholomew. This “tomos” is a response to the artificial “tomos” that Patriarch Bartholomew granted to the fake church in Ukraine in 2018. The faithful of the suffering Ukrainian Church wrote in their tomos that they have a love for the Church of Constantinople and the Greeks from whom they received the Christian faith over one thousand years ago.

It is a moving letter that acknowledges past Patriarchs of Constantinople who were solid in the faith. The contents of the tomos include references to the current persecution that the canonical Church is enduring. The faithful of Ukraine also declare that were Patriarch Bartholomew to repent, that they would once again accept the Patriarch of Constantinople as “first among equals” in Orthodoxy.

Ukrainian faithful came out in huge crowds to express support for the canonical Metropolitan Onuphry and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Many of them wished to see Patriarch Bartholomew to tell him of the suffering they have been enduring because of the persecution directed against them by the fake church under the fake bishops. To his discredit, Patriarch Bartholomew completely avoided them.

With the passing of time, Constantinople’s position in Orthodoxy will continue to decline. Sooner or later, the Orthodox Churches will declare anathemas against the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Perhaps against the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Church of Greece as well.

Pious Orthodox Christians do not want this. Patriarch Bartholomew on the other hand is completely indifferent to the destruction and chaos he has caused. The time is coming when the Patriarch will have to make a choice. Either repent or be excommunicated from the Orthodox Church.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America gave a speech at the international religious freedom summit 2021. In this speech, he criticized the Russian Orthodox Church and its relationship with the Russian government which is ironic as Archbishop Elpidophoros is one of the most important hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The relationship of the Russian Church to the Russian state is based on the concept of “symphonia”, also known as “symphony” or “synergy”.

The concept of “symphonia” came to fruition during the sixth century under the Emperor Justinian of Constantinople. “Symphonia” is the concept of Church-State partnership in which the Church and the State work together for the common good while being administered separately. Archbishop Elphidophoros appears to imply that the Russian Church is under the influence of the Russian government which is simply not true.

As a Greek Orthodox loyal to the real spiritual heritage of Constantinople (which has been betrayed by the Patriarchate) I view contemporary Russia as the modern Byzantium. Russia adopted the spiritual heritage of Constantinople in the year 988 AD when the Russians received the faith from Emperor Basil II. Today, Russia flies the double headed eagle on the imperial flag of Russia and has defended Christians in Syria who were victims of genocide.

Russia also rose to the occasion to help save Cyprus in 2004 when the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations vetoed the Annan Plan at the Security Council which the Bush administration and the Blair government of England tried to impose on the Cypriots. The Archbishop should be reminded that the Russian Orthodox Church has in the past condemned the destruction of Greek Orthodox Churches in Cyprus by the Turks. When has Patriarch Bartholomew ever condemned the destruction of Cypriot Churches by the Turks?

Archbishop Elpidophoros further proceeded to discuss the schism in Orthodoxy before a secular audience of non Orthodox Christians. He defended the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s bestowal of autocephaly on unordained and defrocked clergy in Ukraine in violation of canon law. This appeal to the secular non Orthodox world is a continuation of the unscrupulous machinations of Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Elpidophoros. Very few Orthodox bishops, priests and theologians agree with the actions of Patriarch Bartholomew in Ukraine.

Many of those who do such as the Archbishop of Cyprus and the Patriarch of Alexandria have been heavily bullied into reversing their original stances. Archbishop Elpidophoros has no business criticizing the Russian Church. “Symphonia” as conceived by Saint-Emperor Justinian of Constantinople defines Church-State relations in Russia and did so in modern Greece up until the rise of the Greek atheists of PASOK and Syriza.

The Russian Church is acting in accordance with the way the Church of Constantinople acted in the Byzantine Empire. “Symphonia” is Orthodox. Papism on the other hand which seems to influence the behavior of the present Patriarchate of Constantinople is not only foreign to Orthodoxy, but is heretical. Archbishop Elpidophoros espouses the notorious doctrine that the Ecumenical Patriarch is “first without equals”. The Russian Church is acting in accordance with the precedence established by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Byzantine Empire.

The Church of Constantinople tragically is acting like the Roman Catholic Papacy by claiming total authority over the whole of the autocephalous and local Churches that make up the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church has been calling for the convening of an ecumenical council to resolve the schism in Orthodoxy. The Patriarch of Constantinople has rejected calls for an ecumenical council.

Within Orthodoxy, ecumenical councils represent the highest form of authority. This means that only the universal church in which all the local Orthodox Churches are gathered together may make rulings that are fully binding. The Patriarchate of Constantinople has made a mockery of the conciliar tradition by claiming authority in Ukraine that it does not have and by refusing to put its case before a council in which all the Orthodox Churches are present to make a ruling.

The tradition of “symphonia” is by no means perfect. The Byzantine Empire has numerous example of Christian Emperors who lived immoral lives and engaged in the murders and mutilations of their predecessors and other opponents. Likewise, Russia today has its imperfections in the political sphere. Of course, Christians live in the world which is fallen and tainted by man’s fallen nature so no Orthodox society can claim perfection.

While the Russian Church is a partner of the Russian government through the process of “symphonia” at least the Russian government is Orthodox. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese have aligned themselves with the American State Department that over time has supported the ethnic cleansing of the Patriarchate’s own flock in Constantinople, the invasion of Cyprus, the bombing of Serbia and the destruction of Serbian Orthodoxy in Kosovo, and the destruction of Christianity in Syria and Iraq. Furthermore, the American government and the European Union have been bullying Christian countries (Orthodox and Roman Catholic) into accepting the abominations of abortion, gay marriage, and transgenderism.

The Russian Church has condemned the immoral social policies being promoted by the west. Archbishop Elpidophoros recently presided over the divine liturgy in an Episcopal Cathedral in NewYork which has actively supported the gay and transgender agenda and which displayed the pagan rainbow flags. There are those of us who consider ourselves the spiritual children of the once Great Church of Constantinople and pray that it returns to the light once again.

As things stand now, the Russian Church represents the leadership of Orthodoxy based on the fact that is is heavily active in evangelizing throughout parts of the world and is bearing witness to the gospel before the onslaught of the neo pagan agenda coming from the west. The Russian Church holds the fifth place in rank among the dyptychs of the Orthodox Church. Constantinople holds the first place.

Whereas the Russian Church is partners with an Orthodox government the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are partnered with the atheistic and pagan State Department and the anti Christian Democratic Party. Constantinople would regain leadership if it emulated the example of the Russian Church, and stopped declaring war against it.

As if Greece and Cyprus did not have enough problems with Turkey threatening both of these Hellenic states, the Synod of the Church of Greece has been threatening bishops who have refused to recognize the schismatic entity in Ukraine that calls itself “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”. The Synod of the Church of Greece accuses these bishops of breaking the unity between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Church.

This is utterly absurd. The two previous Archbishops of Athens Serapheim (1974-1998) and Christodoulos (1998-2008) both stood up to the bullying of Patriarch Bartholomew. Were these highly esteemed primates guilty of breaking the unity between the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate? The bishops in Greece that are being bullied by the cowardly synod of Archbishop Ieronymos have listed the violations of Canon Law and Orthodox ecclesiology by Patriarch Bartholomew through his actions in invading the canonical territory of the Russian Church in Ukraine.

This is absolute madness. At a time when the territorial integrity of both Greece and Cyprus are being challenged by Turkey, the Church of Greece is being attacked by Patriarch Bartholomew who happens to be a citizen of the Turkish aggressor state. Greeks need to put aside their sentimentality regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

In his newly published, “The ecclesial Crisis in Ukraine”, Metropolitan Nikiforos of the Church of Cyprus dissects the canonical violations by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine. While correctly providing evidence and citing canon law to demonstrate why Constantinople is wrong in Ukraine, his eminence bends over backwards to emphasize his love for the Church of Constantinople.

I also have a profound love for the Church and City of Constantinople, but sentimentality should not blind those of us who are Greek of the terrible wrongs that have been and continue to be perpetrated by Patriarch Bartholomew. The cowardly Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and other bishops chose to recognize the schismatic abomination in Ukraine as a “church” at the expense of the real Ukrainian Orthodox Church after Patriarch Bartholomew and American officials such as Mike Pompeo and Geoffrey Pyatt demanded they do so.

The moral standing of the Orthodox Church of Greece has fallen to its lowest standing since the era of the military dictatorship when canonical bishops were forcibly removed and replaced by unscrupulous supporters of the junta in violation of canon law. Archbishop Christodoulos recognized that young people in Greece had been alienated from the Church by those particular “bishops” that had been close to the junta.

Archbishop Christodoulos formally apologized at his enthronement in 1998 for the Church’s alienation of young people. The late Archbishop was very humble, charismatic, and pious. At the present time the European Union is bullying Hungary and Poland into fully accepting the gay and transgender ideology. Where are the voices of Archbishop Ieronymos and the synod of the Church of Greece opposing gay marriage and transgenderism?

In 2017, when the atheist Prime Minister Tsipras formally legalized gay marriage and transgender ideology, most of the bishops of the Church of Greece were silent. In the year 2000, the visionary Archbishop Christodoulos challenged the European Union and the anti Christian and anti Hellenic policies of Prime Minister Simitis. The late Archbishop called hundred of thousands of faithful Greeks out to protest in Athens and Thessaloniki against the effort to remove religion from identity cards.

The European Union went from demanding the removal of religion from identity cards to demanding the teaching of homosexuality and transgender ideology in the schools of member states of the European Union. Where are you Archbishop Christodoulos? See how your successor and his bishops remain silent as the Greek government embraces the anti Christian morality and neo pagan ideology of the Europeans? See how Archbishop Ieronymos and other bishops take orders from the American embassy in order to destroy the spiritual brotherhood between the Greeks and the Russians?

Those bishops and priests in Greece who refuse to bow to the bullying dictates of Patriarch Bartholomew are confessors to the faith and worthy examples to faithful Greeks throughout the world. May they persist and stand strong in defense of the faith of Christ and the Greek Orthodox tradition in these evil times.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has scandalized its own faithful and the rest of Orthodoxy once again. The Archbishop and several other Bishops held a service on the name day of Patriarch Bartholomew at Saint Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York. First, Orthodox bishops and priests are not supposed to hold services in non Orthodox temples. The Orthodox Church considers itself to be the “one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church”.

It is indicative once again of how the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its eparchies are moving gradually outside the mainstream of Orthodoxy. Further problems regarding this service arise from the fact that Episcopolians are really not even Christians anymore, and have not been so for many years. The Episcopalians have become well known for their dismissal of Christian dogma and biblical morality.

The Episcopolians admit women into the priesthood and the episcopacy. They also support homosexuality and gay marriage. They also support the transgender ideology. Rainbow flags that are abhorred by Orthodox Christians as well as traditionalist oriented western Christians were reportedly displayed as these Orthodox bishops entered the Cathedral.

The current Archbishop has previously marched with black lives matter, a Marxist organization that supports the eradication of the nuclear family and supports the transgender ideology. Last summer in Portland, members of black lives matter and Antifa reportedly burned bibles along with the American flag. The Archdiocese continues to be a spiritual mess but it could not have done this without the approval of the Ecumenical Patriarchate itself.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has without remorse or regret severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It however continues maintaining friendships with western religious groups that have long disavowed the Christian faith. Ecumenism, the mover toward unity of all “Christians” has been a divisive matter for decades now within the Orthodox Church.

Certainly, a distinction should be made between Roman Catholics and traditionalist Protestant groups on the one hand, and the like of the Episcopolians on the other hand. But even with the Roman Catholics the Orthodox need to maintain a distance. Interfaith prayer between the Ecumenical Patriarch and several Popes has been very divisive and in contravention of the Church’s holy canons.

The Orthodox Church needs to do several things. Relations with the Episcopolians and other such groups need to be abolished outright. Orthodox Christians live in lands that are not Orthodox. It is permissible to maintain friendship and good relations with other Christians such as the Roman Catholics. It should be understood however that the Orthodox Church considers itself the true Church and cannot discuss unification with any other institution.

Orthodox relations with Roman Catholics and Evangelicals should be based upon common stances in opposition to the rise of the new paganism in America and Europe. The LGBT agenda is becoming an increasing threat not only because of the corruptive influence on young people, because this movement seeks the eventual abolition of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. The louder the supporters of this movement become, the less tolerant they became for any and all religious groups who oppose their agenda.

Orthodox participation in an Episcopal temple is deplorable and the failure of Orthodox bishops to recognize the new pagan symbolism that the rainbow flag represents is indicative of how blind they have become. The Russian Orthodox Church, in contrast to the Ecumenical Patriarch recognizes what it taking place in western societies and has moved to protect its own faithful from the spiritual harm of this anti democratic movement that seeks to impose itself on everyone else. Russian Church officials have denounced this movement.

This is at least one reason why the Russian Church is being looked upon for leadership by the whole of the Orthodox world. As the Ukrainian Church crisis continues, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its exarchs continue doing things that scandalize the Orthodox world. The Russian Church has done absolutely nothing to deprive the Ecumenical Patriarch of his position as “first among equals”. His all holiness is disavowing the traditional honor bestowed on his ecclesiastical office all by himself.

Today is the anniversary of the fall of Constantinople. The Queen of the Cities fell on 29 May 1453. Constantine Dragases Paleologos fell in battle against the forces of Sultan Mehmet II. The Greek Army numbered 7,000 and the Ottoman Turks had an army of 80,000.

Despite being overwhelmed, the Greeks held out for nearly two months until they could hold out no more. The Emperor Constantine died fighting to the end. He refused all suggestions that he should leave and go into exile. He died bravely in battle accepting a martyr’s death.

At the time of the fall of the City, the Greeks had been badly divided. The previous Emperor John and the Bishops had accepted the heretical Council of Florence. They had entered into communion with the Papacy and accepted Roman Catholic doctrines in denial of Orthodoxy.

Some things never change. The Greek Orthodox Church today is in chaos owing to the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to enter into communion with schismatics in Ukraine. Bishops in Greece and Cyprus, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria have followed the lead of the Ecumenical Patriarch. At the time of the Council of Florence, the Greek speaking world was blessed to have Saint Mark of Ephesus speaking against the Union of Florence.

There are today bishops in Greece and Cyprus who have spoken against the Patriarchate’s actions in Ukraine. We should hope and pray that they will prevail and that the Greek speaking Churches will reverse their disastrous decisions. Their are some encouraging signs such as the fact that Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens wants to restore relations with the Russian Church.

Russian bishops have said that they are praying for Patriarch Bartholomew and his synod. The Russian Church has stated that it hopes for a resolution to the Ukrainian crisis. It appears that there is still a chance to under the damage of the past three years. Greek Orthodox should pray fervently for the Patriarchate to reverse its actions in Ukraine.

The Patriarchal School of Theology in Turkey remains closed. The effort to open the School of Halki was set back because of the Ukrainian issue. Turmoil caused by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Orthodoxy only serves to worsen its position in Turkey.

Greece and Cyprus face possible genocidal threats from Turkey. National unity is necessary. The Greek speaking world does not need a Church schism anymore than the Greek world needed the national schism in 1920 when Prime Minister Venizelos fell from power at the height of the Asia Minor campaign.

The Greek speaking world should reflect on this dark day of May 29 to reflect on the errors of the time and the present mistakes that need to be corrected. Greeks today should pray for the souls of Constantine Paleologos and the defenders of Constantinople who fought heroically and died in defense of the Christian faith and its Capital.

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk: The atrocities committed against the Greek population of Pontus are shocking

A memorial service was held in a Church in Russia for the memories of the victims of the Greek Pontian Genocide that is commemorated every year on May 19. Metropolitan Hilarion Alfayev top Church diplomat of the Russian Orthodox Church was present and said it was “a real genocide”. The presence of Metropolitan Hilarion is an expression of sympathy from the Russian Orthodox Church.

This is proof of the brotherly relations that bind the Greeks and the Russians together. Previous to the anniversary of the Greek War of Independence in March, Metropolitan Hilarion presided over a doxology in memory of the Greeks who died in the fight for Greek independence. Likewise, Patriarch Kyril of Moscow expressed words of praise for the fighters for Greek independence.

The support and good will for the Greeks by the Russians is undeniable. Does the Greek world really believe that it is in the interests of Orthodoxy or Hellenism for the schism of the Churches to continue. I am a longtime sympathizer of the Ecumenical Patriarchate but considering Constantinople’s actions in Ukraine, it is hard to support the Patriarchate.

The Churches of Constantinople and Greece have the ability to end the schism in Orthodoxy. They should do so immediately. It has been more than clear to anyone who has observed the gestures emanating from the Russian Church that Moscow is favorably disposed toward the Greeks. Athens and Constantinople must opent their eyes.