Syriza leader (and former Greek Prime Minister) Alexis Tsipras has praised the baptisms of the two children of a homosexual couple by Archbishop Elpidophoros. Tsipras is an atheist and that is his business and his right. There is something irritating in Tsipras calling critics of the Archbishop “right wing”.
What secularists do not understand is that this is not a political issue. It is a spiritual issue with serious repercussions for the future. Saint Paul considered same sex relationships sinful as can be seen by his Epistle to the Romans. The law of Moses in the Old Testament likewise criticizes homosexuality.
The Orthodox Church is not a political party or a club. It’s leader is Jesus Christ. Its moral teachings are not reversible. This is the point that Tsipras and the attendees of the aforementioned baptism do not understand. God is real and protects the Church from persecution and keeps it on track despite the fact that it is filled with sinners (both heterosexual and homosexual) and some terrible bishops and priests.
What has created anger are the expressed views of family and others at the baptism that the first “gay Greek Orthodox baptism” took place. These people do not understand the Orthodox Church. It is well provocative for them to push this agenda on the Church.
Alexis Tsipras is way out of order in commenting on Church matters. Tsipras is not only not Orthodox, he is not even a real Greek. He is a Marxist and an internationalist and his tenure as Prime Minister was a disaster for Greece. No one wants to hear from him.
Archbishop Elpidophoros is of course to blame for this whole matter. Tsipras and the others are ignorant. The Archbishop has no excuse for his deplorable actions. This is a sorry situation created by a narcissistic man who happens to be an Archbishop.
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece will be meeting on Monday to discuss the matter. Criticism of the baptism and the family should be tempered by Christian mercy. Same sex relationships can never be recognized but the Church should make an effort to explain its teachings (which Archbishop Elpidophoros neglected to do) in a gentle manner to all those involved.
The Synod should also impose a lifetime ban on Archbishop Elpidophoros. The Archbishop should be barred from ever serving within the Church of Greece again. The Greek Churches have a special responsibility for stopping Archbishop Elpidophoros. Stopped he must be.
On the bright side, there are two babies who were baptized and are members of the Orthodox Church. This itself should be a source of rejoicing despite the sinister things done before and after the baptism.