Categories
faith

The Archdiocese Again

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has scandalized its own faithful and the rest of Orthodoxy once again. The Archbishop and several other Bishops held a service on the name day of Patriarch Bartholomew at Saint Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York. First, Orthodox bishops and priests are not supposed to hold services in non Orthodox temples. The Orthodox Church considers itself to be the “one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church”.

It is indicative once again of how the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its eparchies are moving gradually outside the mainstream of Orthodoxy. Further problems regarding this service arise from the fact that Episcopolians are really not even Christians anymore, and have not been so for many years. The Episcopalians have become well known for their dismissal of Christian dogma and biblical morality.

The Episcopolians admit women into the priesthood and the episcopacy. They also support homosexuality and gay marriage. They also support the transgender ideology. Rainbow flags that are abhorred by Orthodox Christians as well as traditionalist oriented western Christians were reportedly displayed as these Orthodox bishops entered the Cathedral.

The current Archbishop has previously marched with black lives matter, a Marxist organization that supports the eradication of the nuclear family and supports the transgender ideology. Last summer in Portland, members of black lives matter and Antifa reportedly burned bibles along with the American flag. The Archdiocese continues to be a spiritual mess but it could not have done this without the approval of the Ecumenical Patriarchate itself.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has without remorse or regret severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It however continues maintaining friendships with western religious groups that have long disavowed the Christian faith. Ecumenism, the mover toward unity of all “Christians” has been a divisive matter for decades now within the Orthodox Church.

Certainly, a distinction should be made between Roman Catholics and traditionalist Protestant groups on the one hand, and the like of the Episcopolians on the other hand. But even with the Roman Catholics the Orthodox need to maintain a distance. Interfaith prayer between the Ecumenical Patriarch and several Popes has been very divisive and in contravention of the Church’s holy canons.

The Orthodox Church needs to do several things. Relations with the Episcopolians and other such groups need to be abolished outright. Orthodox Christians live in lands that are not Orthodox. It is permissible to maintain friendship and good relations with other Christians such as the Roman Catholics. It should be understood however that the Orthodox Church considers itself the true Church and cannot discuss unification with any other institution.

Orthodox relations with Roman Catholics and Evangelicals should be based upon common stances in opposition to the rise of the new paganism in America and Europe. The LGBT agenda is becoming an increasing threat not only because of the corruptive influence on young people, because this movement seeks the eventual abolition of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. The louder the supporters of this movement become, the less tolerant they became for any and all religious groups who oppose their agenda.

Orthodox participation in an Episcopal temple is deplorable and the failure of Orthodox bishops to recognize the new pagan symbolism that the rainbow flag represents is indicative of how blind they have become. The Russian Orthodox Church, in contrast to the Ecumenical Patriarch recognizes what it taking place in western societies and has moved to protect its own faithful from the spiritual harm of this anti democratic movement that seeks to impose itself on everyone else. Russian Church officials have denounced this movement.

This is at least one reason why the Russian Church is being looked upon for leadership by the whole of the Orthodox world. As the Ukrainian Church crisis continues, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its exarchs continue doing things that scandalize the Orthodox world. The Russian Church has done absolutely nothing to deprive the Ecumenical Patriarch of his position as “first among equals”. His all holiness is disavowing the traditional honor bestowed on his ecclesiastical office all by himself.

Categories
Letters

Letter To Senator Regarding Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus

Senator Warren and/or members of her staff,


My name is Theodore G. Karakostas and I am writing to express my outrage at the silence from the world toward the aggressive and expansionist designs of Azerbaijan (with the backing of Turkey) which occupies the Armenian town of Susha. All the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Armenia. Azerbaijan and Turkey are aggressive and expansionist promoters of terrorism and genocide. 


The United States should seek to punish Azerbaijan and to demand a withdrawal of every inch of territory that it has seized in the Armenian territories of Nagorno-Karabakh. Furthermore, Turkey should be punished for supporting Azerbaijan and the various other acts of aggressions and provocations it engages in which include threats to Greece and Cyprus. Turkey has demanded the demilitarization of the Greek islands whichare off the coast of Asia Minor. 


Greece does not dare demilitarize the islands because it would leave them and their Hellenic populations to the mercy of the murderous and genocidal Turkish military. The likelihood of a Greek-Turkish war increases with the passage of time as statements and threats made by Turkish officials become more brazen and more irrational. The world has a problem with a country that is a member of NATO and a fake “ally” of the United States. 


Before the United States tries to lecture other countries, perhaps it could begin the process of defanging Turkey, a country that it has appeased for over a century. Turkey and its ally in Azerbaijan are major violators of human rights. As of this writing, the government of Azerbaijan is preparing a sham trial of fourteen Armenian prisoners of war. Azerbaijan must be condemned for its human rights violations and must be pressured to return the land that it has seized from Armenia. 


Likewise, Turkey must be pressured to withdraw all troops from the occupied territories of Cyprus. Cyprus has been occupied since 1974 and now Turkey must be held responsible for the crimes it has committed in that land. American claims of democracy, international law, and human rights cannot be taken seriously until Turkey and Azerbaijan are forced to reverse their acts of aggression and crimes against humanity.

Theodore G. Karakostas 

Categories
Analysis

Which Political Party For Greece And Cyprus?

Recently, I have been involved in discussions surrounding American political parties and Greek issues. It remains my position based on historical and political factors that Greece and Cyprus were better off in the long term under the Trump administration. Trump is not necessarily a Republican.

Historically, both the Republicans and the Democrats have been staunchly pro Turkish because ultimately the foreign policy apparatus dictates to the administrations of both parties what the policies toward Greece and Turkey should be. For example, the Eisenhower administration did nothing to punish Turkey in the aftermath of the anti Greek pogroms of 1955. In fact, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles threatened to cut off aid to Greece if Athens did not back down.

It is also true that the Nixon administration and notorious Secretary of State Henry Kissinger instigated the invasion of Cyprus in 1974. In 2004, the Bush-Cheney administration attempted to pressure Cyprus into accepting the Annan Plan. There we have the record of the Republicans.

With regard to the Democrats. In 1965, the Johnson administration attempted to pressure the Greek government into signing an agreement that would have forced Cyprus to keep a Turkish base on the island and would have forced Greece to cede the island of Castellorizo to the Turks.

In 1978, the Carter administration lifted the Congressional Arms embargo on Turkey that Congress had imposed in 1974. In 1992, Presidential Candidate Bill Clinton promised not recognize the country of FYROM as Macedonia. In early 1994, he broke that promise. On January 31, 1996 Undersecretary of State Richard Holbrooke pressured Greece to withdraw from the islet of Imia that maps showed were part of Greece.

Furthermore, in August 1996 the Turks murdered Solomos Solomou and Tasos Isaac in Cyprus and the Clinton administration did nothing to punish Turkey. Therefore, the idea that the Democrats are pro Greek is pure myth. Democrats make promises to the Greeks that they always break.

President Donald Trump was far from perfect in terms of policies toward Greece and Turkey. However, the America first policies that the former President championed were preferable for Greece because the former President was opposed to further American participation in foreign wars. Trump differed from both Democratic and Republican Presidents because he did not believe in the propaganda that all American Presidents traditionally believe in.

Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden all believe in the myth that America has a mission to spread democracy around the world. The gullibility of the average President has been destructive in terms of the wars it has unleashed. No better example of an ignorant President duped by the foreign policy establishment exists than George W. Bush.

As long as American policymakers are looking to wage more wars, Turkey will increase in strategic importance to the United States. Now the new Democratic administration has made Russia into an enemy. This will inevitably lead to greater American dependence on Turkey.

American pro Turkish policies during the twentieth century were preceded by the pro Ottoman policies of the British Empire during the nineteenth century. Untangling this long entrenched policy may take some time. President Donald Trump’s policies were a start to undoing the historic pro Turkish policies of the west.

To begin with, Trump was pro Russian. It is of extreme importance for Greece and Cyprus that the anti Russian hysteria ends. An America reconciled with Russia will decrease dependence on Turkey. Now, Donald Trump did not campaign in 2016 on a pro Greek plat form. But, his policies were beneficial because his administration unlike virtually all previous administration going back sixty years did not pressure or bully Greece into making concessions to Turkey in any form.

For example, during the summer of 2020 Turkey sent ships to drill for oil near Greek islands. On at least two occasions, Athens successfully chased the Turks away. The New York Times ran an editorial slamming the Trump administration and compared this administration unfavorably to the Clinton administrations mediation during the Imia affair of January 31, 1996.

The Times ignores the fact the Imia “settlement” was reached to the disadvantage of Greece which was pressured to give up an islet that was Greek. For the interests of Greece, the lack of intervention on the part of the Trump administration was to the benefit of Greece as the Greeks were not compelled to renounce their own territorial rights and continue to fight to this day to counter Turkish aggression.

Another way in which the Trump administration was helpful to Greece was in pursuing detente with Russia. In 2015, under the Obama administration Turkey shot down a Russian plane. One has to wonder what would have happened under President Donald Trump? Would the pro Russian Trump sought to protect Turkey or would he with his America first policy have stayed on the sidelines and permitted the Russians to punish Turkey?

As of this writing, the Putin-Biden summit has ended. Some reports indicate that President Biden moderated his stance toward Russia and perhaps will work with the Russians for better relations. Such a stance would be most welcome. If Moscow does not have to fear NATO encroachments on its borders then perhaps the Russians will not be compelled to support Turkey?

Russian and Turkish interests are not compatible. The Russians have admittedly disappointed the Greeks up to now, and they did not support the Armenians after the aggressive war instigated by Azerbaijan. Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus face existential threats and a cold war between Washington and Moscow will put them in greater danger if the two great powers end up competing for Turkey’s support.

The future of Greece and Cyprus should not depend on the support of politicians of either party. Politicians will say whatever they need to get money and votes from the Greek community. The key to getting support for Greece and Cyprus lies with getting support from the foreign policy establishment, and that will be extremely difficult.

What Greece needed was an updated version of the Megali Idea. A political ideology based on the defense of all Greek and Cypriot territory. Greece has failed to exploit the Erdogan government’s collaboration with ISIS and its emergence as the future center of the next Caliphate. The problems that Greece and Cyprus face are immense and will not be solved by participation in mere partisan politics and loyalty to one or another political party.

There is a great deal of thinking to do in how to dislodge the ongoing western support for Turkey. One step is for Greeks to support the anti war movement that has taken hold in the Republican Party. War means being pro Turkish. Anti war means reform of traditional foreign policy.

While there are no guarantees as to what anti war politics would do for Greece and Cyprus, it would likely be better than the ongoing warmongering policies pursued by both the Democrats and the neocon controlled Republican Party in the past.

Categories
political

Biden’s War On Women And Motherhood

In a new budget proposal, the Biden administration has proceeded to eradicate the use of the term “mothers” and has replaced it with the term “birthing people”. This is indicative of the extent to which the Democratic Party has been completely taken over by the transgender lobby. Lunatic left wing organizations such as Planned Parenthood have praised the Biden administration since they believe that “cisgendered” women alone do not give birth.

Those of us who live in reality understand that if a person is capable of giving birth then that person is a woman. Women who give birth are mothers. The trans movement is now declaring war on language in order to make words conform to their delusional beliefs.

Joe Biden is proving to be an utterly contemptible President. It is disgraceful that this man is taking the lunatic views of the most extreme elements of the political left and attempting to shove them down the throats of the American people. Joe Biden and the Democratic Party are waging war against biological reality, as well as biblical truth.

There are problems with some aspects of the Republican Party agenda, but the fact of the matter is the Democrats are dangerous because they are taking the far out beliefs of the trans activists who make up less than one percent of the population in America and are forcing them on the rest of us. This is not going to stop anytime soon.

In 2008, news media reported on the infamous “pregnant man”. This was a woman who “transitioned” into a man and became pregnant. In 2015, Time Magazine ran an article written by a woman about her “pregnant brother”. This was the point of no return. Normal thinking people would have realized that people who get pregnant are women.

The ideologues on the left however decided that the ability to get pregnant and give birth matters not if a woman decides she is really a man. This is the most extreme form of narcissism. When the President took office in January he signed the “equality act” which will permit boys to play in girls sports and to use girls locker rooms, restrooms, and showers.

For reasons of morality, propriety, and safety male and female students have traditionally used separate locker rooms and restrooms. Joe Biden and the Democrats have made it clear they have no use for traditional morality of any kind. The administration has declared war on Christian faith and morality.

From my standpoint as a Greek Orthodox Christian, voting for the Democratic Party at this time completely contradicts Christian morality and faith. At worst, if I as a Greek Orthodox Christian had voted Democratic, I would have served as an enabler to the future persecution of Christianity in America. The Trans movement has no tolerance or patience for anyone who disagrees with its war on women and motherhood. The Biden administration is firmly committed to this lunatic movement.

Christians and other normal people of different faiths must refuse to use the terminology that the Biden administration is attempting to impose on the whole of American society. There must be a point in which the madness ceases. The starting point for Christians in America who are interested in addressing this lunacy is to recognize that social activists who control the Democratic Party are the pagans and idolaters of the present era.

Categories
books

A Byzantine Church Remembered

Book Review

The Holy Apostles

A Lost Monument, a Forgotten Project, and the Presentness of the Past.

Margaret Mullett and Robert G. Ousterhout, Editors

Dumberton Oaks Research Library and Collection.

2020.

“The Holy Apostles” is an excellent volume of essays published by scholars focusing on the long destroyed Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. During the centuries of the Byzantine Empire, the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople contained the relics of Apostles, Saints, and Christian Emperors including Constantine and Justinian. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it became for an extremely brief period the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Patriarch Gennadios was permitted to use the Church following the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. The Patriarch subsequently decided to abandon the Church and to move the Patriarchate elsewhere. Large numbers of unfriendly Turkish settlers were moving into the area and there was a body found on the premises which was perceived as a threat. Furthermore, the Patriarchate did not have the funds necessary to maintain and preserve the Church.

Tragically, the Church was destroyed and converted into a Mosque. The Fatih Camii Mosque presently stands on the ruins of the long lost Church. Fortunately, the Church of the Holy Apostles survives in the memory of historians and scholars who have contributed time and effort into examining the Church.

There are excellent and informative essays by scholars who recount the history of the Church and the relevance of the Apostles of Christ (for whom the Church was named) in the theology of the fathers of the Church. Scholars have taken the time to study historic descriptions of the Church and have attempted to give us an idea of what the Church of the Holy Apostles looked like. They have done so by visiting and photographing existing Churches which resemble the descriptions of the Church of the Holy Apostles.

Photographs are produced of the still standing Church of Saint Irene in Constantinople and other Churches that may bear a resemblance to the Church of the Holy Apostles. This text is really an excellent effort undertaken to study the Church of the Holy Apostles. It is very informative and it is good to see that one of the most important Churches in the history of Constantinople has not been forgotten.

At the present time, the condition of Hagia Sophia is steadily worsening. One day, scholars may be working on a project about Hagia Sophia. With Hagia Sophia, there are at least photographs and videos that can be studied to teach future generations of the beauty and splendor of Hagia Sophia.

History never really ends. Five and a half centuries ago, Sultan Mehmet II demolished the Church of the Holy Apostles. Today, President Erdogan of Turkey presides over the ruination of Hagia Sophia.

Categories
political

Hagia Sophia Diaries 24

Hagia Sophia: In poor condition one year after Church converted into a mosque

Ten months after Hagia Sophia of Constantinople was converted into a Mosque, news reports are surfacing of the terrible condition in which Saint Justinian’s Church is in. There is dust throughout the whole Church, knobs are broken, and cables are hanging throughout the Cathedral. President Erdogan’s promises regarding Hagia Sophia have obviously not been kept.

Once Hagia Sophia was converted into a Mosque, it was easy to predict that the Church would be altered and would not be protected. President Erdogan is a fanatic and was unlikely to recognize the significance of Hagia Sophia for either Christians or for secular interests who were interested in the preservation of the Great Church. UNESCO and the various secular interests waited much too long to speak to the Turkish government about Hagia Sophia.

The Greek Government and the Orthodox Church of Greece also waited much too long to make international appeals for Hagia Sophia. By the time any of them began protesting, the Turkish government had been fully committed to the conversion of the Great Church. The question now is what comes next?

It is is crucial that UNESCO fulfills commitments pledged to examine Hagia Sophia and to document the condition of the Great Church and any and all damage done to this remarkable Christian edifice. The Turkish government can do as it wishes regarding Hagia Sophia as no one at this point can do anything about it. However, Turkey should be condemned internationally and the Erdogan government should be treated as a pariah government.

UNESCO and various academics and related organizations should be willing to condemn Turkey. Credit should be given to secular Turkish officials who for nearly eighty five years were responsible for the upkeep of Hagia Sophia. At least they preserved the iconography and the building.

It is obvious that the Erdogan government took Hagia Sophia from the more rational and responsible officials of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and gave them to the ignorant followers of Erdogan. This is utterly contemptible and worthy of international condemnation. It is also a sign of darker things to come from the Erdogan government in the realms of external aggression against neighboring countries such as Greece.

Categories
faith

Constantinople 2021

Today is the anniversary of the fall of Constantinople. The Queen of the Cities fell on 29 May 1453. Constantine Dragases Paleologos fell in battle against the forces of Sultan Mehmet II. The Greek Army numbered 7,000 and the Ottoman Turks had an army of 80,000.

Despite being overwhelmed, the Greeks held out for nearly two months until they could hold out no more. The Emperor Constantine died fighting to the end. He refused all suggestions that he should leave and go into exile. He died bravely in battle accepting a martyr’s death.

At the time of the fall of the City, the Greeks had been badly divided. The previous Emperor John and the Bishops had accepted the heretical Council of Florence. They had entered into communion with the Papacy and accepted Roman Catholic doctrines in denial of Orthodoxy.

Some things never change. The Greek Orthodox Church today is in chaos owing to the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to enter into communion with schismatics in Ukraine. Bishops in Greece and Cyprus, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria have followed the lead of the Ecumenical Patriarch. At the time of the Council of Florence, the Greek speaking world was blessed to have Saint Mark of Ephesus speaking against the Union of Florence.

There are today bishops in Greece and Cyprus who have spoken against the Patriarchate’s actions in Ukraine. We should hope and pray that they will prevail and that the Greek speaking Churches will reverse their disastrous decisions. Their are some encouraging signs such as the fact that Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens wants to restore relations with the Russian Church.

Russian bishops have said that they are praying for Patriarch Bartholomew and his synod. The Russian Church has stated that it hopes for a resolution to the Ukrainian crisis. It appears that there is still a chance to under the damage of the past three years. Greek Orthodox should pray fervently for the Patriarchate to reverse its actions in Ukraine.

The Patriarchal School of Theology in Turkey remains closed. The effort to open the School of Halki was set back because of the Ukrainian issue. Turmoil caused by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Orthodoxy only serves to worsen its position in Turkey.

Greece and Cyprus face possible genocidal threats from Turkey. National unity is necessary. The Greek speaking world does not need a Church schism anymore than the Greek world needed the national schism in 1920 when Prime Minister Venizelos fell from power at the height of the Asia Minor campaign.

The Greek speaking world should reflect on this dark day of May 29 to reflect on the errors of the time and the present mistakes that need to be corrected. Greeks today should pray for the souls of Constantine Paleologos and the defenders of Constantinople who fought heroically and died in defense of the Christian faith and its Capital.

Categories
position papers

Orthodoxy And Politics

The question of the political participation of Christians has always been controversial. Christians however have always had interests in the political sphere. During the first three centuries of the Church, Christians were martyred. The pagan Roman Empire demanded the slaughter of Christians if they did not worship the Emperor as a god.

Throughout the centuries, Christians have suffered as a result of persecution by heretics (the iconoclasts) and non Christian conquerors (Arabs, the Ottoman Empire). Orthodox Christians have been persecuted by western Christians (the Crusades). The most obvious examples of persecution of Christians today emanate in the Islamic world.

However, as the western world has entered a post Christian era it has become fairly obvious that hostility to the faith of Jesus of Nazareth and neo paganism are on the rise. Specifically, the Democratic Party in America has become host to the enemies of Christianity. The Democratic Party has become the party of the rainbow flag which promotes the blasphemous doctrines of transgenderism.

Upon coming to power, President Joe Biden signed into law (with the support of Congressional Democrats) the “equality act”. This act would force not only secular schools to permit boys identifying as girls to use female restrooms and showers, it requires women’s shelters to permit men to live among women. At a very minimum, the Democratic Party is supporting the overthrow of traditional morality that has traditionally guided relations between men and women.

During the debates of the Democratic Party in 2019, Presidential Candidate Beta O’rourke stated that if he were President he would strip Churches and other religious institutions of tax exempt status if they refused to perform gay weddings. The audience erupted in applause. An audience of Democrats applauded the proposal to strip religious communities in the United States of their rights.

There are to be sure aspects of the Republican agenda and Donald Trump that are not compatible with Christianity. However, we do not live in a perfect world. The fact is however that the Trump administration defended religious freedom and the rights of Christians by respecting freedom of conscience and the refusal of Christians to participate in the forcible imposition of the LGBTQ agenda.

The Biden administration has routinely denounced Russia, Hungary, and Poland. These are three Christian countries whose governments reflect the Christian values of their citizens. The Democratic Party has made it clear that it intends to make the imposition of its radical social agenda a part of its foreign policy.

The Book of Genesis teaches us that “male and female he created them”. The trans ideology that the Democrats are promoting is being pushed on children. In one notorious case in Texas, a mother has gone to court to deprive her husband of his legal rights in order to begin to transition her eight year old son into a girl. This is horrific and immoral.

In addition, Governor Ralph Nordham of Virginia has openly supported abortion up to the day when a woman is to give birth. Even this is not enough for this particular Democrat. This Governor has openly said that in the event that an infant survives a nine month abortion that the “Doctor” and the Mother would have a discussion about what to do with a living, breathing baby. So, even a living baby would be a “choice” according to the Governor.

Conservative and religious groups have condemned the Governor’s extreme position. Not the Democrats however. There is nothing too extreme for the Democrats as long as it goes along with the party’s left wing agenda. Orthodox Christians in America now live in a society where infanticide is being legitimized.

This along with the trans agenda being directed at children. Religious objections are being denounced as “transphobia”. In addition, we are seeing the emergence of child drag queen celebrities on Youtube and the imposition of “drag queen story hour” in public libraries across America. The Democratic party has emerged as the enemy of Christianity.

It is one thing for Christians to be non partisan. In more reasonable times, it is the position of the Orthodox Church to remain outside of partisan politics. Indeed, the Church is not a political party and must not be reduced to politics. However, the political situation in America has deteriorated to such an extent that Orthodox Christians are required by the command of God to oppose the radical neo-pagan agenda of the Democratic Party.

Infanticide is evil and must be condemned. Sex changes for minors is evil and must be condemned. Children are gradually being sacrificed by the contemporary neo-pagans to the false ideology of the LGBTQ movement. The Democratic Party does not respect freedom of conscience or freedom of religion.

Orthodox Christians like the early Christians of the pagan Roman Empire are being put in a defensive position where they are required by the commandments of God to resist and to defy the new order that is coming into effect. The warning signs have been made clear.

Ironically, there is a similar position that the Democrats and present day American liberals share with the Nazis toward Christianity. For example, during the Nazi occupation of Greece , the Germans could have said that they allowed the Christians to attend Church services and observe their faith. But, when it became known to Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens and several other bishops that the Germans were looking to round up Greek Jews to send them to the extermination camps such as Auschwitz, the Church actively resisted.

SS General Stroop threatened to have Archbishop Damaskinos shot for actively speaking out against the round up of Jews. Because ultimately, Christ in the Gospels taught about those he referred to as “the least of my brethren”. Those who thirst, who are hungry, and who suffer. Christians are obligated to help those in need and the Orthodox Church of Greece responded accordingly by resisting the Nazis.

Likewise, Christians cannot accept the agenda that the Democratic Party is pursuing in America today. Christians cannot accept the trans agenda. Dressing up boys as girls and vice versa is morally wrong and attempting to “transition” children is an attack on God’s creation.

Furthermore, marriage was intended by God for the union of one man and one woman. Marriage can never be of two people of the same gender. Saint Paul speaks against homosexuality in his epistle to the Romans. Yet, the radical left whose agenda the Biden administration promotes would force Christians to accept policies that are regarded as sinful.

There is an impending storm in America. A gradual persecution of Christians is beginning. Christians are not being fed to the lions as they were during Roman times, but they are being slowly coerced into accepting practices that are contrary to biblical and dogmatic precepts. I suspect that the audience of Democrats that applauded the comments of Beta O’rourke would applaud if Christians were being fed to the lions.

There are many reasons to disapprove of the Republicans and some of their policies, but at the present time the Democrats have become increasingly radical to the point that they are emerging as a threat to believing Christians. As such, until this threat subsides, freedom of worship will be more secure under the Republican Party.

Categories
Letters

UNESCO Letter

Greetings, 


I am once again writing to you regarding the ongoing issues pertaining to the Great Hagia Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople and the Church of the Savior at Chora. I am writing again because it appears the Turkish government continues without hindrance to make changes to the Great Church of Hagia Sophia that was established by the EmperorJustinian the Great between the years 531 and 537 AD. The latest changes to Hagia Sophia indicate that the danger to the Byzantine Greek Orthodox iconography is growing with the continued changes to Justinian’s Cathedral. 


The Turkish government has placed an electronic sign between the minarets of Hagia Sophia which is yet another serious blow to the character of Hagia Sophia. I am writing to you to express the hope that UNESCO will condemn this latest attack on the Christian character of Hagia Sophia. In your last letter to me, I was informed that UNESCO officials paid two visits to Hagia Sophia in October 2020 and January/February 2021 to collect information for an examination. 


I respectfully seek to inquire how that is coming along? Considering that the activities of the Turkish government  within Hagia Sophia continue unabated It appears that the very existence of Hagia Sophia’s religious, historic, and cultural foundations are at risk and that Hagia Sophia’s future is in a state of crisis. I remain appreciative for the attention that you are giving to Hagia Sophia and remain certain that you remain sensitive not only to the historic and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia, but to the great spiritual significance that Hagia Sophia holds for Greek Orthodox Christians. 


I look forward to your response, 

Thank you 
Theodore G. Karakostas 

Categories
faith

Memorial Service For Martyrs of Pontian Genocide in Russian Church

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk: The atrocities committed against the Greek population of Pontus are shocking

A memorial service was held in a Church in Russia for the memories of the victims of the Greek Pontian Genocide that is commemorated every year on May 19. Metropolitan Hilarion Alfayev top Church diplomat of the Russian Orthodox Church was present and said it was “a real genocide”. The presence of Metropolitan Hilarion is an expression of sympathy from the Russian Orthodox Church.

This is proof of the brotherly relations that bind the Greeks and the Russians together. Previous to the anniversary of the Greek War of Independence in March, Metropolitan Hilarion presided over a doxology in memory of the Greeks who died in the fight for Greek independence. Likewise, Patriarch Kyril of Moscow expressed words of praise for the fighters for Greek independence.

The support and good will for the Greeks by the Russians is undeniable. Does the Greek world really believe that it is in the interests of Orthodoxy or Hellenism for the schism of the Churches to continue. I am a longtime sympathizer of the Ecumenical Patriarchate but considering Constantinople’s actions in Ukraine, it is hard to support the Patriarchate.

The Churches of Constantinople and Greece have the ability to end the schism in Orthodoxy. They should do so immediately. It has been more than clear to anyone who has observed the gestures emanating from the Russian Church that Moscow is favorably disposed toward the Greeks. Athens and Constantinople must opent their eyes.