Does the Church of Constantinople truly "serve Satan"?

[Q:] “Is it correct to say that every church that is either under the Pope or cooperates with him, like the church of Constantinople nowadays, serves Satan?” - by email.

[A:] I would say that only a pharisee of the strictest order or a buffoon would say such a thing. It is true that they are falling into error and that is why we do not commune with them, and it is true that error is inspired by the evil one. But there are degrees. Think of other sins also inspired by the evil one. Our Saviour says “that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:28), but few people would be judgmental and tactless enough to label him an adulterer. He might progress and start arranging to see her more often in various ways, but still who would be vicious enough to still label him an adulterer? It goes on - he might find ways and opportunities to touch her inappropriately, but until he had consummated his sin with her, only a bigot would call him an adulterer. There is a parallel in the case you ask about. In those ecumenical Churches (and it is not only Rome that we have to worry about - what about the Anglicans, the Protestants and others?), there may indeed be some who are deliberately or unwittingly serving Satan, but the vast majority of those who endorse ecumenical ideas are, I suspect, simply adopting current and prevalent erroneous ideas - they have no intention of serving Satan. Our part should not be to use the tactics of the mob and pour scorn or derision upon them, but to call them back to the true yardstick of the Faith, with which we can clearly discern the true path and can see the menace of their present convictions. And remember the folk proverb which contains much truth in it: “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” I would stand well clear of anyone promoting the vinegar approach; sober Orthodox do not condone the sin and they warn against it, but they show love towards the sinner.

 

Source: The Shepherd: An Orthodox Christian Pastoral Magazine, Vol. XLV, No. 4, December 2024, pp. 21-22.