"This is the priceless treasure"

By Metropolitan Augustinos (Kantiotes) of Florina (+2010)

Those affected by the poison of Ecumenism have a spiritual blindness. They do not distinguish between the differences among the Orthodox Church, the heterodox, and even the non-religious. They only see similarities. And because of these similarities, they call for uniting all faiths and becoming one! They get angry and agitated if anyone dares to remind them of doctrinal differences and that there is a great divide between the Orthodox, the heterodox, and the irreligious, and that it is extremely dangerous to attempt such reckless leaps. Within Ecumenism, Orthodoxy loses its savor and aroma, the blood and the fragrance of Christ.

Let us get to know our Church, our Orthodoxy, better... Let us remain faithful and dedicated to our Orthodox Eastern Church, holding tightly, always, eternally, to our Orthodox faith. Our Orthodox faith is a precious treasure, and unfortunately, we do not know it well... Rejoice, our brothers, because you belong to the Orthodox Church....

The Papacy is a subversion of the fundamental laws of the Church, of genuine Christianity.

The Unia is a Trojan horse, a satanic device of the Papacy, to reap the souls of the Orthodox... The Unia is one of the weapons used by papal propaganda to subjugate the Orthodox Church.

The Pope is a source of heresies. We will remain Orthodox. We will not betray our faith.

The most important thing our fathers left us is not the fields, the houses, the money; it is the Orthodox faith. This is the priceless treasure. Therefore, hold on to this treasure well: “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). Close your ears to the enemies. Remain faithful to the Church in which you were baptized; prefer death rather than losing the Orthodox Confession. Tell both men and demons: I was born Orthodox, and I will die Orthodox; I have dropped my anchor here, and no wave will drag me away from the harbor of Orthodoxy. As for those who are outside the fold of Orthodoxy, all we can do is pray and hope that they and all others will return to the embrace of the Orthodox Church. May the Lord be pleased to put an end to heresies and divisions, so that all may unite in Orthodoxy, and the world may become “one flock under one shepherd” (John 10:16), to the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This will surely come to pass.

But through many wars, much blood will be shed, and after all the bloodshed, humanity will repent and fall down to worship Christ. And then all mouths and all hearts, and all will say:

“To the holy Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen!”

Greek source: Πνευματικά ἐφόδια σωτηρίας καί ἐορτολόγιο τοῦ 2011 [Spiritual Resources of Salvation, and Liturgical Calendar for 2011], published by Orthodoxos Kypseli.