Categories
political

America’s Doctor And The Scientific Community

Anthony Fauci returned to the Senate to testify and engaged in a very bitter and partisan exchange with Republican Senators Rand Paul and Roger Marshall that represent Kentucky and Kansas respectively. As the lives of Americans are once again being disrupted by omicron it is infuriating to watch “America’s Doctor” behaving like a politician. He referred to Senator Marshall as a “moron”.

Mr. Fauci has become a very angry and bitter old man. This is not the man who should be responsible for dealing with the threat of covid. Understandably, Fauci is angry because he has received death threats and in December one lunatic was arrested for planning to murder him. Certainly, threats and murder attempts deserve to be condemned.

Senator Paul referred to the attempted murders of Republican members of Congress in 2017 by a supporter of Bernie Sanders and pointed out that Republicans do not blame Sanders for the actions of one lunatic. Fauci attempted to blame Senator Paul for the actions of the lunatic that was arrested last month. Fauci like a skilled politician is attempting to deflect attention from his responsibilities for funding gain of function research in China.

Threats are odious and vile but are common for public officials and politicians, religious leaders, celebrities, and many others. Fauci has the option of resigning if he believes the pressures of his job are too much for him. He is eighty years old and has been in his present position for thirty seven years.

There are those of us who are angry because our lives have been disrupted. Fauci is being criticized for using the taxes of Americans and sending them to China to fund the infamous lab in Wuhan. Senator Paul and others cited evidence that showed Fauci and Frances Collins at the National Institute of Health silenced and intimidated colleagues who suggested the origins of the virus were not natural but was created by humans at the lab in Wuhan.

The self pitying little man who the media calls “America’s Doctor” believes he is unaccountable. A few months ago he dismissed criticism of himself by suggesting those who criticize him are criticizing science. He reminds one of the Jack Nicholson character in “A few Good Men” who lost his composure and began ranting.

Both Fauci and the scientific community have much to answer for. Unfortunately, the propaganda machine that is the media will never hold them to account. Scientific arrogance can be seen by the disregard for the average person whose money they have used to help bring about a pandemic that has deprived that person of his personal freedom.

The ultimate hypocrisy of Fauci and his fellow scientists (the ones who support him) and most liberals can be seen by their collaboration with the most evil government on earth. Why were they even working with the Chinese?

China is one of the most ruthless governments in the world. Political prisoners are murdered with a bullet to the head. The families are then taxed to pay for the bullet. Many have referred to the “soft genocide” under way against the Chinese Muslims known as “Ughyurs”. These are a Turkic people that are now in concentration camps and are brutally tortured and repressed.

The scientific community have no interest in the mass human rights violations in China. That they were supporting any activities in China indicates how immoral scientists really are. Funding anything in China today would be the equivalent of funding activities in Hitler’s Germany in 1935. There are certain regimes that are so obviously evil that there can be no justification for funding them.

The media and the Democrats have overhyped the pathetic and ridiculous capital riots of last year. They have ignored the much more sinister realities that have transpired within the scientific community and the growing political influence of “America’s Doctor”. The man we must not criticize.

Categories
political

Dick Cheney On The Republican Party

Former Vice President and architect of the Iraq war Dick Cheney criticized today’s Republican Party. He said he is disappointed in the leadership of today’s Party. Daughter Elizabeth Cheney referred to a “cult of personality”. The Cheney’s were in Washington for the first anniversary of the capital hill riots.

The riots last year were certainly not a good thing, and it was not Donald Trump’s finest hour. It was also not quite the threat to democracy that Democrats and neocons think it was. The real threat to democracy was the attempted coup/impeachment against Trump in early 2020 but that is another story.

The capital hill riots when all is said and done were a very minor affair. Compared to the Iraq war which Cheney aggressively supported, the riots are of no significance. The invasion of Iraq led to the deaths of countless Iraqi lives in a civil war followed by the further horrors and mass murders perpetrated by “Al Quada in Mesopotomia” and its Islamic State successor.

One third of Iraq (and later one third of Syria) would be occupied by Islamic State. Shiite Muslims, Christians, and Yazidis were slaughtered in cold blood. The Iraq war gave life to radical jihadists. Dick Cheney and his associates such as Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, Condoleeza Rice and others had fantasies about “democracy” in the middle east.

The Iraq war was a disastrous failure. The rise of Donald Trump within the Republican Party was historically welcome as this led to the downfall of the war criminals of the Bush-Cheney era. In 2016, it became fairly obvious that Trump’s rise was a threat to the neocons. Neoconservative Max Boot wrote an op ed in the New York Times endorsing Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for President.

Hundreds of pro war neocons would subsequently support Hillary’s candidacy. Hillary would have delivered the wars that they wanted. The cabal of pro war schemers like John Bolton and others working in the shadows represent a far greater threat to American democracy than the mobs of January 6, 2021.

Dick Cheney said the present Republican leadership does not resemble the Republicans he knew when he was a Congressman. His Republicans left to support Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign in 2016. His Republicans made very clear that they do not like Donald Trump who very much enjoys the support of conservatives today.

The Bush-Cheney administration created the climate for Islamic State to establish its “Caliphate”. Islamic State went on to terrorize and bomb Paris, London, and Belgium. American cities were also the victims of Islamic State attacks as well from California to Florida. The January 6 riots cannot be compared in any serious way to the devastation wrought by the Bush-Cheney administration.

Good riddance to the Cheney family. Good riddance to the Clintons, and good riddance to the Bush family. In 2024 at the latest we will say good riddance to the Bidens.

Categories
faith

Byzantine Intrigue In The Twenty First Century

The term “byzantine” is frequently used to denote intrigue and treachery. In Constantinople, factions schemed against one another and there were numerous Emperors that were murdered or blinded. The ugliness of the fallen world and the crimes perpetrated in the Empire of New Rome does not diminish the sanctity of religious life in Constantinople. Cathedrals and Monasteries were built, and holy fathers and saints continued to work for the glory of God throughout the Empire.

What are we to make of the intrigue and factionalism in Orthodoxy today? The Emperors could be excused to an extent because they resided in the secular world. Critics of Byzantium cite the intrigue in the Empire but let’s be serious. There is not a single civilization or country that has ever been exempt from the realities of a sinful and corrupt world. America for example has made it a practice to bomb and invade other countries.

The Russian Empire like its Byzantine predecessor had its own sins but this did not mean that the Russian Empire was not a force for good. The primates, hierarchs, and clergy of the Orthodox Church have left the secular world and so the kind of intrigue that was in many ways understandable in Byzantium, is not so understandable within the Church of God. What would the apostles and the fathers of the Church think today?

The blame for the present crisis in Eastern Orthodoxy lies with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Patriarchal invasion of the canonical territory of the Russian Church in 2018 is the source of all subsequent bitterness, instability, and factionalism that plagues Orthodoxy. As the rivalry between the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Russian Orthodox Church heats up, Patriarch Bartholomew watches with indifference.

It is with horror and revulsion that I have been watching the schism gradually widen. The members of the Russian Orthodox Church and its daughter Church in Ukraine are brothers and sisters in the lord. The Ukrainian faithful have been persecuted for the last several years because they refuse to abandon the canonical Church for an artificially created entity brought into being in order to satisfy secular politicians in Kiev and Washington.

I happen to love the great Church of Constantinople. It is with horror that I have watched the Ecumenical Patriarch work with the anti Orthodox establishment in Washington to hurt the Russian Church. The actions of Constantinople are shameful and deplorable.

We are seeing the Russian Church establish an exarchate in Africa at the expense of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. I have mixed views as to the appropriateness of this action. What is absolutely certain is that if Patriarch Theodore had not emulated the example of Patriarch Bartholomew in Ukraine then the Russians would not now be in Africa. It should be emphasized that the Russians have always respected the boundaries of the ancient Patriarchates and treated them with honor.

The Greek speaking Orthodox Churches have adopted policies that contravene Orthodox ecclesiology. The synod of the Church of Greece and the Archbishop of Cyprus for reasons still unverified followed the destructive path set by Patriarch Bartholomew. The entire Ukrainian affair is not about healing the Church schism in that country. It is about destruction.

What good has come from any of this? We have the estrangement of Constantinople from Moscow. The estrangement of Alexandria from Moscow. The estrangement of the Greek Churches from their sister Churches.

Even the reputation of Mount Athos has suffered because a few Abbots inexplicably joined Patriarch Bartholomew’s anti Russian campaign. This is destruction and madness. The only way out is through repentance and the convening of an ecumenical council.

This byzantine intrigue has to end. The Ecumenical Patriarch is universally recognized as “first among equals”. Beyond a “primacy of honor” he has no rights or privileges.

Based on the continued deterioration in inter Orthodox relations it is apparent that the most logical way to defuse this crisis is to depose Patriarch Bartholomew. This can only be averted through repentance on the part of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

The world has enough problems. Washington is provoking Russia again in Ukraine. The omicron variant is infecting people around the world. Transgenderism, infanticide, and gay radicalism are threatening the influence of Christianity in the western world.

The purpose of the Orthodox Church is to baptize the nations. The world is in darkness and needs the light of Jesus Christ. This inter Orthodox fighting is detrimental to the Church’s sacred mission.

Categories
faith

Happy New Year

The year 2021 was not a perfect year. It was however a much better year than 2020. Here is hoping that 2022 brings about the following,

1) The pandemic becomes an endemic meaning that covid will be like the flu. It will never go away but we will live normally. The media report conflicting information. The World Health Organization says the pandemic is on its way to becoming an endemic. Let’s hope the scientists do not move the goal post again and may we be able to live fully normal lives again.

2) The schism in Orthodoxy. May this be the year the Ukrainian schism is ended.

3) The Biden administration should come to its senses and leave Ukraine out of NATO. This is the basis for peace.

4) Last but not least. May this be the year that Cyprus was freed from the Turkish occupation.

Categories
faith

The Church Crisis In Africa

The Russian Orthodox Church has received one hundred and two African priests into its omophorion. Hitherto, Africa has been recognized as belonging under the authority of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. The Russian Church has now established its own exarchate in Africa which is bound to create confusion and chaos.

Sometime in 2019, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria entered into communion with the fake church in Ukraine that calls itself “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”(OCU). Until 2018, the whole of Orthodoxy recognized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as the legitimate and canonical Orthodox Church. The UOC is an autonomous and self governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The problems were begun by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew when he intervened in Ukraine and brought together two groups of unordained and unconsecrated clergy pretending to be Orthodox bishops and priests. These two groups merged in December 2018 at a fake council under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarch and became what is now the OCU. A group led by a defrocked charlatan split from the OCU but that is another story.

Af first Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria supported the canonical Church of Ukraine (UOC). He urged the faithful of the canonical Church to remain within it and to remain loyal to the canonical bishops. After about a year, Patriarch Theodore reversed his stance and immediately entered into communion with the fake bishops of the OCU.

Some time ago, Orthodox priests in Africa asked the Russian Church to accept them as they were opposed to the uncanonical actions of Patriarch Theodore. The Russian Church initially hesitated fearing that the schism with Alexandria might be aggravated. Last summer, Patriarch Theodore concelebrated the liturgy with the leader of the OCU and this appears to have been the catalyst for Moscow’s decision to receive the African priests.

In September, the Russian Orthodox Church decided to establish an exarchate in Africa. Moscow has now proceeded to receive the African priests. Patriarch Theodore has lamented this decision of Moscow.

Patriarch Theodore should not be playing the victim. He knows full well why Moscow has established an exarchate in Africa. As mentioned above, Patriarch Theodore himself was once a supporter of the canonical Church in Ukraine. He cannot possibly be ignorant as to why Moscow is now in Africa. He is also not ignorant of the fact that he is in the wrong for establishing communion with the fake bishops of the OCU.

Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria can defuse the Church crisis as it pertains to Africa. He can and should publicly repent for establishing communion with the OCU. He should sever communion with the OCU and formally apologize to Patriarch Kyril of Moscow and Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev (the legitimate bishop of Ukraine).

If Patriarch Theodore were to reverse his decision on Ukraine it would not only defuse the crisis between Alexandria and Moscow it would set a precedent for the Church of Greece to reverse its own horrendous error in recognizing the schismatic OCU.

Categories
Letters

Letter to Greek Scientist

Professor Mossialos, 


I am a Greek Orthodox Christian living in America and have become aware of your recent insult and blasphemy that was directed at the most holy Virgin Mother of God. I am a person who is fully vaccinated and has received the booster shot. I also wear a mask in consideration of the safety of other people. I am not quite sure why you felt the need to make a tasteless joke about the most holy Theotokos. 


Apparently, you believe it is fine to ridicule and insult Christians. Permit me to tell you what many scientists and doctors here in America believe. I live in a country where scientists and doctors are telling us that it is possible for men to become pregnant. There are those who also believe that there may be as many as sixty three genders or more. Even worse, there are people in the field of science and medicine who are attempting to use these theories to experiment on minor children. In some American states, it is legal for children as young as thirteen years old to “transition” to the opposite gender without permission from their parents. 


Saint Paul, the holy apostle who brought the light of Christ to our beloved Greek homeland wrote, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:25). On Christmas we celebrated the birth of the incarnate logos who took the flesh of man in order to bring about the redemption of man. The redemption of man was needed because man as a creature fell into sin. Men have fallen repeatedly throughout the course of history and we have seen the fall of man yet again as a result of the worldwide pandemic for which some scientists are indisputably responsible for. 


It is well known that American and other scientists were funding gain of function research in the lab in Wuhan. Distinguished scientists such as yourself should carry on working to put an end to the pandemic. The Orthodox Churches throughout the world have been offering up prayers for scientists and doctors and the sick throughout this entire crisis. It is unclear why you would presume to insult the most Holy Theotokos. 


In addition, your insult to the Christian faith betrays an attitude of arrogance and elitism. Worldwide, there is a dangerous division between the scientific-medical communities and ordinary people. Blasphemous pictures on social media that insult Christians everywhere do nothing to put an end to this division. It is necessary for people of differing beliefs to work together for the common good. Your disrespect for the Virgin Mary betrays this goal. 


The above mentioned quote of the holy Apostle makes very clear that man is nothing before God. The end of the pandemic will be hastened by the grace of God to whom Christians throughout the world direct their prayers. We believe in miracles. We believe in the glory of God and in the miracle of the incarnation. We believe that Mary the Mother of God was indeed a Virgin. With God all things are possible and we believe that through the power of faith this pandemic will be eradicated. 

Christ is born! Glorify him! 

Theodore Karakostas

Boston, MA 

USA 

Categories
books

Remembering Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens died ten years ago this month. Hitchens was a militant atheist. He was also a very fine journalist and writer. On matters pertaining to faith, he was completely wrong and never understood faith.

On matters of politics he was a must read writer. He was always interesting and always intelligent and articulate. He was a man of the left but never hesitated from excoriating the left when he believed matters of principal were at stake.

He had no tolerance for the left if its representatives attempted to serve as apologists for jihadism post 9-11. Even though he was wrong for supporting the Iraq war, one could appreciate his arguments about the horrors of the regime of Saddam Hussein. Hitchens was a man of principal.

He was truly democratic and espoused the cause of democracy. One could respect his support for regime change in Iraq which was based on genuine support for democracy while disagreeing with the conclusions Hitchens reached. Hitchens was a true intellectual.

I first learned about Hitchens when I read his book “Hostage to History” about Cyprus. A superb book and Hitchens was a philhellene which I truly appreciated. Aside from espousing the cause of Greece and Cyprus, Hitchens supported justice for the Armenians, Kurds, and Palestinians.

He was the enemy of racism and anti-semitism and quite passionate on all subjects. He was usually lucid, but on matters of religion he demonstrated ignorance. This display of ignorance was rare for Hitchens.

Two other great books he wrote were “No one left to lie to” and “The Trial of Henry Kissinger”. When Hitchens was good, he was great. His condemnations of Bill Clinton and Henry Kissinger were Hitchens at his very best denouncing the evils that both of these villains were responsible for.

I have missed the writings and journalistic works of Christopher Hitchens. In the aftermath of his death, two volumes of articles written by Hitchens have been published and are worth reading. It would have been interesting to see what Hitchens who was opposed to political correctness would have thought about the wokeness.

Hitchens was once married in the Greek Orthodox Church. A pity he did not understand Orthodoxy.

His memory be eternal

Categories
faith

Faith And Secular Clash An Orthodox Resolution

Stelios Kouloglu is a Greek member of Parliament representing the leftist Syriza Party. He has unwisely intruded into the controversy between Scientist Elias Mosialos and the Greek Orthodox Church. Mosialos provoked and offended Orthodox Greeks with a post on Facebook which ridiculed the Virgin Mary. Rather than apologize and bring the matter to a close, Mosialos responded with a bizarre statement indicating he does not understand Christianity or why Christians were offended.

That he is ignorant of Christian beliefs and is likely not a member of the Church is not for us to judge. This is his own business. The problem is his manner and arrogance. A well educated Scientist should have more important things to do than posting offensive and blasphemous pictures insulting the most Holy Theotokos.

Now we have the above mentioned Kouloglu comparing Orthodox Greeks with Al Quada and ISIS. The Syriza member of Parliament compared Greeks who are angry with Mosialos with the terrorists who perpetrated terrorist acts against French cartoonists of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in 2015. This is the typical stupidity of a representative of the contemporary left.

The left is trying to turn a buffoon like Mosialos into a victim and martyr. Do Christians not have the right to protest and be angry? Apparently, expressing anger is for Kouloglu no different than perpetrating terrorist acts. In this regard, it is clear that the Greek left is taking its talking points from radical leftists-secularists in America and Europe.

We are seeing the anti Christian hatred in America and Europe being imported to Greece. This demonstrates Syriza (like Pasok) is not a Greek political party but an internationalist one. It is true that their have been calls to fire Mosialos.

A resolution to this matter is simple. Mosialos should apologize. The Church should accept his apology and urge forgiveness. This is the Orthodox way. Mosialos should understand he is a Scientist and not a commentator. His job is not to express opinions on matters outside his chosen field.

He should retreat to his profession. He should also learn about the art of diplomacy. The bishops of Greece have other pressing matters to attend to and should avoid being provoked. As for Syriza, Orthodox Greeks should remember what Mr. Kouloglu thinks of them next time there is an election.

Categories
political

On The Need For Optimism And Faith

During the great depression FDR went on radio for his fireside chats to talk to the country. FDR was a President who exuded optimism. Ronald Reagan was like that as well. Those kind of attitudes are crucial for the morale of people during difficult times

The attitudes that media and scientists have during the present crisis is frustrating and infuriating. Omicron is a setback in the fight against covid. But, this is not March 2020 nor is it the winter of 2020 to 2021.

We have come a very long way. Can anyone say that the year 2021 was not much better than 2020? Even with Omicron, this is a mild variant in comparison to its predecessors. The infections in South Africa have decreased dramatically. The present situation is difficult but there are signs that are encouraging.

The Scientific community sees things very bleakly. I understand we need to be realistic and not be in denial. Do we have to see things in the worst possible light.

Scientists do not understand diplomacy or behave like emotionless machines. Take for example the Greek scientist Elias Mosialos. This Scientist was attempting to persuade Greeks to wear masks. A worthy endeavor.

This man posted a blasphemous picture of the holy family in which he mocked and ridiculed the virginity of the most holy Panaghia within the context of mask wearing. This fool does not realize that angering millions of Orthodox Greeks does not make it easier to persuade people to wear masks.

Most Greek bishops have endorsed vaccinations and have assisted the government in efforts to stop covid. Yet, Mr. Mosialos angered the bishops in Greece. The contempt for Christianity that this well educated Scientist expressed is an example of the dangerous divide that exists between the scientific community and many ordinary people.

People around the world are tired, frustrated, and angry. No doubt the Scientists feel the same way. But the Scientists need to understand human nature as it is. Human civilization over the past two years has suffered a trauma unprecedented in this lifetime.

The Scientific community has estranged itself from millions of people owing to the support given to the Wuhan lab in China. From the very beginning of this pandemic Scientists lost the confidence of people owing first and foremost to association with China. The inability of Scientists to show any form of optimism and the doom and gloom attitudes have not helped.

What are people supposed to think in a horror movie world where life has been completely disrupted only to see Scientists who have no empathy for regular people? Yes, people should be responsible and wear masks and be vaccinated. Scientists likewise need to have more empathy and appreciation for the average person.

Scientists do not relate to ordinary people. That is a problem and it can be seen in the example of a Greek Scientist ridiculing the Mother of God. This Scientist has totally undermined his own efforts to convince people to wear masks.

At a a time when unity among men matters, science has become politicized and detached from ordinary citizens. This is an obstacle that needs to be overcome. Scientists should not mock religious faith and they should be inclined to acknowledge that things have improved despite recent setbacks.

The anti vaxxers and Scientists have much in common. They both view the present world with a sense of pessimism and negativity. Since the Scientists and the media are publicizing nothing but negativity and minimizing facts that offer hope they should not be surprised that so many people believe that things are hopeless.

Orthodox Christians and people of other faiths take solace knowing that God is there. Leave it to a scientist to mock faith which has proved invaluable to so many people during these evil times.

Categories
political

Karolos Papoulias Rest In Peace

Former Greek President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karolos Papoulias passed away. He was an honorable man and a Greek nationalist who as Foreign Minister under the late Andreas Papandreou took very hard line positions on Cyprus and Macedonia. In 2004, the treacherous Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Constantinos Mitsotakis, and Dora Bakoyannis plotted against Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos refused to accept a United Nations plan for Cyprus that would have solidified the Turkish invasions and occupation. For this reason, the above mentioned buffoons sought to undermine the President of Cyprus. President Papoulias refused to support them and maintained his support for a free Cyprus.

May his memory be eternal!