Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese needs to be deposed. For years, he has been a controversial and polarizing figure. He is indifferent to the controversy and division that he has left in his wake. His contribution to the schism in Ukraine as a result of his distortion of Orthodox ecclesiology is the most notorious example.
Metropolitan Antonios of the Metropolis of Glyfada in the Church of Greece has given new information regarding the baptismal ceremony that has caused such an uproar in Orthodoxy. The American Archbishop asked permission from the Metropolitan to preside over a baptism of two babies in a parish in Glyfada. The American hierarch told the Metropolitan it was a family baptism without pointing out the “parents” were gay.
His eminence Metropolitan Antonios has stated flat out he was deceived. It is clear that Archbishop Elpidophoros was dishonest. The Archbishop has NOT communicated with the Metropolitan ever since despite the uproar and division that has ensued. The Archbishop must be removed at this point as he has demonstrated his unfitness to lead the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
His eminence Metropolitan Antonios has expressed sympathy for the babies. This was clearly a delicate situation. The Orthodox Church does not recognize or permit same sex unions. There is a view that says the children should have been baptized despite the status of the “parents”. The Metropolitan has said that if he knew the status of the family he would raised the issue with the holy synod which would have collectively made a decision as to whether the baptism should proceed.
Indeed, some voices within the Church of Greece suggest the baptisms should have proceeded. If Archbishop Elpidophoros had been honest this entire controversy could have been avoided. While the majority of the blame lies with the Archbishop the family and the guests contributed to the anger of scandalized Orthodox faithful by their insensitive comments.
The guests did not celebrate the entry of two beautiful children of God into the holy Church. They seemed to celebrate the imposition of homosexual relationships on the Orthodox Church as if the Church were a secular institution susceptible to modernization and evolving standards of social morality. They hurt themselves by their apathy toward the sacred teachings of Orthodoxy which emanate from revelation and holy tradition. Proudly referencing the “first gay baptism” in the Orthodox Church was a provocation against the Church and her faithful.
It is sad to see that people have been embarrassed and hurt. The Church in the end has an obligation to her founder Jesus Christ and to adhere to holy scripture and sacred tradition. Archbishop Elpidophoros put everyone in an awkward position by failing to adequately convey the moral teachings of the Orthodox Church.
None of this should have happened. This case does create the need for the Orthodox Church to adopt a firm stance regarding the issue of baptism when the parents of a child do not adhere to Orthodox teaching. Sexuality is not the only instance in which something like this could happen. What if the parents are white supremacists or adhere to other anti Christian ideas and philosophies?
This should be a wake up call to the Greek speaking Churches. For nearly three years, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has dominated the Church of Greece. This case illustrates why the Church of Greece must be removed from the domineering influence of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
Archbishop Elpidophoros had very little experience as pastor or bishop when he was elected Archbishop. The bishops in Greece are very experienced and have real flocks unlike the Archbishop in his former see at Proussa. This should be the time for the Church of Greece to reclaim its autocephaly and to tell the Archbishop that he will never again be permitted to serve in Greece.
If the Ecumenical Patriarchate wants to recover the credibility it has lost mostly because of Ukraine (and other issues) it will depose the Archbishop and rule out the possibility of assigning him elsewhere. The Patriarchate should repent for Ukraine but that is another story. The Orthodox Church is a hospital for sinners that does not seek to turn people away. But it can never change what Christ has given through the scriptures, the apostles, the fathers, and holy tradition.
One reply on “The Church Is A Hospital For Sinners But Cannot Change”
Very regretful the Archbishop behaved in such a deceitful manner. The Church hierarchy bank on their credibility and when they sacrifice that for short term expediency it reveals them to be unworthy of the sensitive role they occupy. I note this Archbishop has been active in the World Council of Churches, which has been increasingly secular in it’s outlook in recent years, I have to wonder if that exposure has been bad for him?