A Greek television station MEGA has been broadcasting a series on the life of Saint Paisios the Athonite (1924-1994). Saint Paisios is one of the most beloved Saints in the recent history of Orthodoxy. He was a holy and pious monk from Mount Athos who taught love and assisted anyone who sought his guidance. Miracles are said to have been attributed to him during his lifetime and after his death.
He was added to the list of Saints in 2015. Churches named for him have been built not only in Greece, but in Russia and Syria as well. His tomb outside Thessaloniki at the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian is a site of pilgrimage from throughout the Orthodox world.
Now, a secular Greek politician has proceeded to ridicule the series on Saint Paisios. Petros Tatsopoulos made one serious point but even that point was mangled by the insults and ridicule that he directed at Orthodox Christians. He suggested that the story of Saint Paisios cannot be considered historical. From the viewpoint of secular history and research this point is valid and in itself does not disrespect religious faith or the life of the Saint.
History is generally written through the prism of historians and researchers whose emphasis is on facts that can be proven in this world. Christian faith is not of this world and so the revelation of God is something that is beyond the scope and purposes of secular historians. The Church itself through the bishops, priests, theologians, and ecclesiastical historians have the task of examining the role of God in history and the world.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized the Elder Paisios as a Saint in 2015. Under the influence of the holy spirit the works and miracles of Saint Paisios were recognized. Secular historians do not recognize divine miracles and it is not their purpose to pass judgement on matters of faith.
Many good secular historians have written about Christianity and other faiths with great respect. They have done so by explaining matters of faith. For example, the study of Byzantine history necessitates a knowledge of Orthodox faith and dogma. There are brilliant secular historians who have written about Byzantium and discussed the dogmas that were formulated by the Ecumenical Councils and Synods.
Now, returning to Tatsopoulos. Tatsopoulos does not do historians any favors by his comments. His attacks on the series depicting the life of Saint Paisios is motivated by ideology, not by his love of history. It is clear that like many officials of the Greek establishment that he is a secularist, an internationalist, and an ass.
His suggestion that Greece will not return to the middle ages is indicative of his western and anti hellenic mindset. The middle ages he refers to have to with Western Europe. Of what does Greece have to do with Europe? Greece languished under the Turks for centuries and before that under the yoke of the Franks who invaded Constantinople and other Greek lands.
Greece is a mess today. Greece has a spiritual crisis as well an identity crisis. The Greek political elite mock the Orthodox faith of the Greeks and their beloved Saints while erasing Greece’s history from schools and subordinating Greek interests to that abomination known as the European Union.
Tatsopoulos is apparently a former Syriza official that has joined New Democracy. This is now the second time someone associated with Prime Minister Mitsotakis has ridiculed the faith of the Greek people. Last December, the Greek representative to the World Health Organization ridiculed the Mother of God.
The Prime Minister needs to distance himself from the enemies of Orthodoxy and Hellenism.