Categories
political

Greece Gets Support

As Turkey continues to provoke Greece, there is some support for Athens. The State Department and even Germany are condemning Turkey. Granted, this does not mean that real support will be coming but for diplomatic purposes these displays of support are helpful.

The most promising support comes from the Jewish lobby in America. The Jewish lobby opposes the Biden administration’s intention to sell F-16 fighter planes to Turkey. This is the support that could be most helpful to Greece.

A partnership between Greece and Israel is most welcome. The Israelis are more enlightened than the Americans or the Europeans. There support for Greece and Cyprus seems more sincere. The Israelis know that Turkey cannot be trusted.

On the other hand, Israel is an ally of Azerbaijan. Israel needs to cut off Azerbaijan which is Turkey’s puppet and is committing crimes against humanity against Armenians. For Turkey to be defeated, Azerbaijan must be cut off by Israel.

Categories
faith

Stopped He Must Be

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.

Categories
Analysis

The Church Is A Hospital For Sinners But Cannot Change

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.

Categories
faith

Betraying The Orthodox Church

Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has baptized the children of a Greek homosexual couple in Greece. Many people would argue that the children being baptized is good despite the life styles of the “parents”. That sentiment is well intended but misguided.

The problem lies with the fact that the “couple” do not intend to live a Christian lifestyle and the children are going to be exposed to a life (and more accurately a political movement) that is anti Christian. That makes the decision of the Archbishop to proceed with these baptisms deplorable. The “parents”, godparents, and others who attended the baptisms (wealthy Greeks the type who I suspect support the Greek left) did not celebrate the reception of these boys into the Church.

They celebrated the idea that the Greek Orthodox Church is becoming “modern” and adapting to the new pagan social agenda. The holy sacrament of baptism seems to have been overshadowed by the celebration of LGBT ideology. It is interesting to see that these baptisms did not occur under the auspices of a bishop of the Church of Greece. Greek Bishops remain traditionalist despite the heavy pressure and bullying that they have endured from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in recent years.

Archbishop Elpidophoros has a disregard for Orthodoxy. Upon being elected Archbishop in 2019 he had a poor reputation owing to his view that the Ecumenical Patriarch was “first without equals”. His views on Orthodox ecclesiology advocate the overthrow of the conciliar tradition which holds that only an ecumenical council in which ALL Orthodox Churches participate has authority in Orthodoxy. He has made horrendous blunders such as marching with the Marxist black lives matter whose members burned Bibles and advocate the defunding of the Police.

He also attended the Turkish gala at the Turkish consulate last year in which the leader of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus was present. It is clear that this man has no business being either an Archbishop or serving in the priesthood. His betrayals of Orthodoxy continue unabated.

He must be deposed.

Categories
political

Greek Americans and The Republicans?

The interests of Greek Americans look increasingly more compatible with the Republican Party. Greek relations with Israel are taking off. Jewish organizations are angry that the Biden administration cancelled the Greek-Cypriot- and Israeli pipeline agreement.

It also appears that Israel is helping Greece with technology that could resist Turkish use of drones in the event of a Turkish attack. Israel could become Greece’s most important ally. This is a crucial reason why Greeks should consider the Republican Party.

The Biden administration has demonstrated its contempt for Greece and Cyprus by putting the neoconservative Victoria Nuland in as assistant Secretary of State. Nuland played a decisive role in canceling the above mentioned pipeline agreement. In addition, Biden supports selling fighter planes to Turkey despite being urged not to by Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

The Republicans are traditionally pro Israel. With Israel Greece’s ally the Republicans could conceivably tilt toward Greece. The Democratic Party is a Marxist party that has little interest in foreign affairs aside from being anti Russian.

Greeks should be considering the Republican Party as their future home. Not unconditionally, the Republicans would have to show themselves as favorable to Greece. The prospects look good however since Israel has a realistic view of Turkey in contrast to the Biden administration.

Categories
Commentary

The War On Civilization And The Question of Republic Vs Empire

The cultural Marxists and the Democratic Party which has been taken over by the former continue throwing tantrums because Roe V Wade was overturned. We are bombarded relentlessly with propaganda that women are losing their rights. We live in a society where people are losing real rights and the left is totally indifferent.

Take for example the transgender issue. Conservative Matt Walsh has made a film called “What is a Woman?”. In interviews with Doctors, Scientists, and Professors he is told that sex has nothing to do with biology. Sex, we are being told is a social construct.

These lunatics have gained much power and influence in America. They are taking over the schools. In many cases, they are undermining parents by teaching this political ideology. Even worse, students are labelled “trans” and encouraged to adopt the identity of the opposite sex without consulting the parents of these children.

So, what about the rights of parents who are Christians and do not want their children brainwashed by ideologues? The left is in no position to be talking about rights. The left now controls the Democratic Party, the media, and most of the schools and universities.

The left provoked the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is not to say the Russians were right to invade Ukraine.They were not. But years of anti Russian hysteria and the lies that Trump owed his election to the Russians combined with NATO’s annexation of Ukraine made war inevitable.

The lunatic mobs screaming about abortion (there should never be any restrictions on abortion in their minds) do not have a problem with a war between two nuclear powers. Such is the stupidity and ignorance of the barbarians who call themselves “liberals” and make up the core constituency of the Democratic Party.

They are barbarians hastening the demise of civilization. The left has gone from supporting infanticide (the right to abortion in the ninth month) to supporting castrations and masectomies for minors under the guise of compassion. The left also brought us the lockdowns.

Let it not be forgotten that Anthony Fauci is the hero of the left. Fauci who possesses no democratic legitimacy of any kind and who has held his office since 1984 was responsible for funding gain of function research at the Wuhan Lab which resulted in the leak that killed over five million people worldwide. The Democrats having driven Trump from office continue with the January 6 show trials.

What happened on January 6 was deplorable and Trump has behaved irresponsibly. Regardless, the Democrats and their media have brought us all to the brink of World War Three. Democracy no longer exists.

Millions of Americans are deprived of opposing views on Russia-Ukraine, the pandemic, and the social evils that Democrats are promoting everywhere. In Florida, Republican Governor Desantis demanded that schools do not teach students about homosexuality. The reaction of the media was typical hysteria and accusations of “homophobia”. Since when do teachers have the right to make their sexuality a topic of discussion for school children?

Back in 1999, conservative writer and former Presidential Candidate Patrick Buchanan wrote a book called “A Republic, Not an Empire”. Buchanan promoted an America first policy that was anti war. This is the cry of Donald Trump whose foreign policy endorsed America as a Republic, Not an Empire.

It is the Democratic Party that is the war party. Not content to promote homosexuality, transgenderism, and abortion in America, these neo pagans want to promote these policies around the world. The Russians caught on to this. The Russians are wrong on Ukraine but correct in resisting the aggressive paganism and/or atheism of the American Democratic Party. The Biden administration has also been attempting to bully Poland and Hungary into going along with its anti Christian radical policies.

The linkage between ideology and empire can best be seen by the display of the Ukrainian flag at pride parades. The anti Russian sentiment is not because Russia invaded Ukraine. The left (and the LGBT community in general) has been anti Russian since at least 2012 when radicals in Moscow desecrated the Christ the savior Cathedral. The pagan cult that is the Democratic Party is on a Crusade to impose its anti Christian values and morally bankrupt values on other countries (especially Christian ones).

The average Democrat is incapable of discussing history or foreign policy. Christianity is foreign to these pagans. All they know is abortion, transgenderism, and homosexuality. They are declaring war on civilization both militarily and culturally.

Better an American Republic, than an Empire. A Republic representing democracy and peace. Empire representing never ending wars and the promotion of cultural Marxism that the Democrats have turned into the official ideology in the realms of domestic and foreign policy.

Donald Trump appointed three conservative judges to the Supreme Court that overturned Roe V. Wade. A job well done by the former President. This will be remembered as one of his finest achievements in domestic policy. Pro life, anti war, and pro Christian. There has never been a President more friendly to Christianity in my lifetime.

Categories
political

Biden Embraces Erdogan

The Biden administration and NATO have betrayed Greece by striking a deal with Turkey. Turkey has formally lifted its veto and will permit Sweden and Finland to join the alliance. It appears that the Kurdish exiles who are politically active in those countries will face a crackdown and serious restriction in their activities against Turkey.

The Kurds have been totally betrayed. In fairness, it was the Trump administration that betrayed the Syrian Kurds when it permitted Turkey to invade Syria. As of this writing, it is unclear if the Biden administration will sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. I expect they will sell the jets to Turkey.

This is a disastrous failure for Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Dendias. Mitsotakis has stupidly embraced the anti Russian rhetoric and hatred of NATO. Even as NATO refuses to call Turkey to order in its aggression against Greece, Mitsotakis is calling for all NATO countries to impose sanctions on Russia.

This is disappointing coming from Mitsotakis. Mitsotakis has previously stood up to Turkey (successfully) but has placed Greek foreign policy back in American and NATO hands. The Greek American community is just as bad having foolishly backed the Democrats who have never done anything for Greece.

It remains to be seen what will happen but things are not turning out well for Greece and Cyprus.

Categories
political

Kicking The Bible

Pro abortion fanatics in Seattle whose political affiliation is fairly obvious were playing soccer with a Bible. The Bible was being kicked around and finally flushed inside a portable toilet. Such is the way that Democratic youth treat the holy word of God.

For the pagan cult known as the Democratic Party only the paper upon which Roe V Wade is written can be considered holy. This is the sacred scripture of the new pagans. This is a preview of what is coming down the line if the Democrats win the elections in the fall and reclaim the White House in 2024.

Orthodox Christians should remember what happened when the Communists took power in Russia. While America is unlikely to ever be as bad as that, the situation for all Christians in America could become very unpleasant.

Categories
faith

The Ecclesiastical Situation in Ukraine

A few weeks ago the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow) held a council in which the bishops declared their Church independent of Moscow. What this means remains unclear as they are not formally seeking autocephaly and they have enjoined a status of autonomy for thirty years in which they govern themselves while remaining formally under the Moscow Patriarchate.

It is clear that the war has made it difficult for the Ukrainian Church to remain under Moscow. In addition, there is renewed persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the Ukrainian authorities. That persecution began long before the war.

What is most unclear is the situation in world Orthodoxy. There is no question that the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s intervention in Ukraine remans wrong canonically and morally. There is no change on that front.

What has changed is the relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Church. It is very unclear what the future holds regarding the Ukrainian Church or how it will affect the schism between Constantinople and Moscow. Whether this is good or bad remains to be seen.

There have been reports that the Ukrainian Church (the real one) was interested in talks with Constantinople’s “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”. The fake bishops of that entity ruled out the possibility of their bishops and priests being ordained properly. So, there is no resolution to the local schism in Ukraine while the canonical Church seems to be uncertain about its own relations with Moscow.

One can only pray that this mess is resolved in accordance with the Canons.

Categories
faith

The Archbishop’s Misstep

Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has received into the Archdiocese a “bishop” that was defrocked by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). Archimandrite Alexander Belya was defrocked by the ROCOR synod for various unethical actions. On that basis, the Archbishop had no right to receive him into the Greek Archdiocese or to consecrate him a bishop.

The other Orthodox Churches in America are threatening to withdraw from the Episcopal Assembly unless the Archbishop reverses himself. The Episcopal Assembly constitutes the gathering of all Orthodox bishops in North America. ROCOR withdrew in 2018 when the Ecumenical Patriarchate instigated the Ukrainian crisis.

The Archbishop has committed a variety of missteps such as marching with Black Lives Matter (a Marxist organization), attending the pro life gathering in Washington and contradicting himself by making both pro life and pro choice statements. Last fall, he attended a ceremony at the Turkish consulate in New York which was attended by Turkish officials and the Turkish appointee who presides over the occupied territories in Cyprus. That visit is particularly scandalous considering Turkish threats to seize the Greek islands. He is however most notorious for his extreme views regarding the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate which do not align with Orthodox ecclesiology.

The Archbishop must reverse this latest mistake. He should also resign as Archbishop as he clearly is not familiar with America and is not determined to learn how to govern the Church in America.