Concerning the Rebaptism of Old Calendarists

Nikolaos Mannis | May 28, 2025

 

On the occasion of the recent statement by the Archbishop of Cyprus, Mr. Georgios, concerning the mutual recognition (by all the Local Churches) of the baptism of the heterodox when it is performed in the name of the Holy Trinity, [1] I recalled that exactly the same was taught in his university lectures by Metropolitan Gregorios of Peristeri, who had even written that the same applies also in the case of the schismatics. [2]

The above views have, of course, a basis both in the patristic teaching [3] and in the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils [4], which distinguish heretics into those who should be baptized and those who should not, based on whether they have altered the Trinitarian formula of Baptism. So far, so good.

The problem, or more precisely the inconsistency and contradiction, begins when the issue of the reception of the Old Calendarists is raised.

Specifically, the Synodal Committee on Dogmatic and Canonical Issues of the Church of Greece declared in 2006 that "the Mysteries of the Old Calendarists are considered as not having taken place and must be repeated from the beginning." [5]

Based on this decision, many Metropolises of the Church of Greece, while accepting the baptism of the heterodox because it is performed in the name of the Holy Trinity, rebaptize the Old Calendarists, despite the fact that their baptism also is performed in the name of the Holy Trinity!

But it must be one of two things: either every baptism performed in the name of the Holy Trinity is accepted (and thus neither the heterodox nor the Old Calendarists should be rebaptized), or every baptism outside the Orthodox Church, even if in the name of the Holy Trinity, must be rejected—in which case not only the Old Calendarists, but all the heterodox as well, must be rebaptized.

This absurdity, however, within the Church of Greece, becomes even greater when we know that the Patriarchate of Constantinople—that is, the Mother Church from which the Church of Greece received its Autocephaly—accepts the baptism of the Old Calendarists and has decided that they are to be received with Chrismation and not with Rebaptism! [6]

Also, as a friend of mine informed me in detail—she recently contacted a Metropolis to inquire about what must be done in order to serve as godmother in the Mystery of Marriage for a friend of hers who is an Old Calendarist and wishes to marry a Roman Catholic—several Metropolises to which she turned confirmed the aforementioned absurdity: namely, to consider the baptism of the Roman Catholic acceptable, but not that of the Old Calendarist...

Specifically:

a) the Metropolis of Kefallinia (referring to the aforementioned decision of the Synodal Committee) ruled that the bride must absolutely be baptized because she is "unbaptized," but the groom is not obliged to be baptized Orthodox, unless he so wishes...

b) the Metropolis of Piraeus (through the head of the Marriage Office, Fr. Panagiotis Sachtouris) stated that they accept the baptism of the Roman Catholic, but "for the woman, her baptism must be done from the beginning"!

c) the Metropolis of Rethymno (through Fr. Spyridon Vardidakis) stated that "the bride must be baptized by a canonical Orthodox priest."

d) the Metropolis of Arta likewise stated that "the prospective bride who 'is baptized by Old Calendarists' must be baptized by an Orthodox Priest in an Orthodox Church."

e) the Metropolis of Sidirokastro responded clearly: "we can perform a Marriage between a Roman Catholic and an Orthodox, but not between a Roman Catholic and an Old Calendarist, because our Church does not recognize the Mysteries of the Old Calendarists. The only case in which the Marriage can be performed is if the Old Calendarist is baptized anew by an Orthodox Priest."

f) The Metropolis of Kythera referred to the aforementioned decision of the Synodal Committee.

g) the Metropolis of Kassandreia emphasized that "it will be necessary for catechism and rebaptism to be performed by a Priest of the canonical Church of Greece, because the so-called G.O.C. (Old Calendarists) do not have canonical Apostolic Succession."

h) the Metropolis of Kalamaria responded: "The greatest problem in your case arises with the baptism of the young woman. The mysteries of the Old Calendarists are not recognized. Therefore, the young woman must be baptized."

i) the Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki likewise stated: "The member who belongs to the schismatic church of the Old Calendarists must receive the mystery of baptism from the Metropolis to which they belong (where they reside permanently)."

j) the Metropolis of Kaisariani, Vyronas, and Hymettus informed that "the baptism of the prospective bride is not valid, and therefore she cannot be married in our Church. Her prospective husband, as a Roman Catholic, is permitted to receive the Mystery of Marriage."

Other Metropolises were more consistent (rejecting equally the baptism of Roman Catholics and Old Calendarists — despite the fact that they participate in common prayers with the former, but not with the latter!), while only one (the Metropolis of Limnos) agreed with the practice of the Patriarchate of Constantinople (Chrismation and not rebaptism). Many did not respond in writing at all, perhaps considering that scripta manent...

The issue is particularly serious, since in recent years in Greece we have been especially occupied with the Ukrainian Question, yet we persist in ignoring the now century-long calendar schism within the ranks of the Church of Greece. And although the Calendar Question was among the first and fundamental topics registered in the agenda of a planned Pan-Orthodox Council, such a Council was never convened, while at the Council of Crete in 2016 the topic was omitted (and rightly so, since not all the Orthodox Churches participated).

Let us hope that a truly Pan-Orthodox Council will be convened, which will rule in accordance with God, dissolving all these absurdities and divisions within Orthodoxy.

 

FOOTNOTES

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brbC1-aBnSA&t=196s

[2] "Between the schismatics who separate themselves and the Church, there do not initially exist significant differences, and these can be overcome relatively easily, for if they wish to return, it is not required that they be rebaptized. Schism does not result in a definitive rupture, provided that there was no attempt to alter the Trinitarian formula of baptism (which is called the canon of faith)" (Archim. [now Metropolitan] Gregorios Papathomas, Canonical Glossary, Athens, 2011, p. 113).

[3] Indicatively: “Those, therefore, who have been baptized into the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, having been taught one nature in three hypostases, and are again rebaptized—these crucify Christ anew” (St. John of Damascus, On the Orthodox Faith, Book IV, Chapter 66, on faith and baptism).

[4] See indicatively Canon 7 of the Second Ecumenical Council and Canon 95 of the Quinisext Council.

[5] https://www.entaksis.gr/%CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%BC%CF%85%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B7%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B8/

[6] Ecumenical Patriarchate, The return to ecclesiastical communion of a portion of those following the old (Julian) calendar, Phanarion Publications, Athens, 1999, pp. 80 and 127.

 

Below: The decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in favor of the recognition of the Baptism of the Old Calendarists, on the occasion of the reception of [Bishops] Paisios-Vikentios in 1998, which is violated by many Metropolises of the Church of Greece.

 

"c) Inasmuch as the Orthodox Church, on account of the absolutely necessary nature of Baptism for salvation, accepts as valid also the baptism performed in necessity by an Orthodox layman in the name of the Holy Trinity, rebaptism is strictly forbidden by the Holy Canons; baptisms performed by non-priests, or by those who have been defrocked or are suspended, shall be considered, under extreme condescension and economy, as valid. Those thus baptized, however, shall necessarily be chrismated with Holy Chrism by a canonical priest, with the reading of a special prayer, upon the exchange into their hands of certificates issued for such by the Ecumenical Patriarchate or by ecclesiastical authorities appointed by it."

 

Greek source: https://krufo-sxoleio.blogspot.com/2025/05/blog-post_28.html

Concerning those who have walled themselves off...

Ioannis Paparrigas | May 30, 2025

 

"And now this so great disagreement and strife among the Christians takes place because of the contempt for the one, great, true, and only King of all and God. For each one departs from the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, and seeks to impose his own conclusions and rules in an authoritative manner, and prefers rather to govern contrary to the Lord than to be governed by Him."

St. Basil the Great, E.P.E., Vol. 8

 

Once again, we read and hear the following tragically comical things!

Fr. Savvas, formerly of Lavra, in order not to appear "excommunicated," justifies himself in a video from yesterday, saying:

"Our struggle is not carried out outside the Church, we are not creating a schism. We are not Old Calendarist groups, we are not schismatic groups, we are Orthodox Christians...." Indeed...

On the other hand, the newly-walled-off Fr. Dimos Serkelidis, in one of his talks, similarly stated that he is not an Old Calendarist, so that he too would not be stigmatized as a schismatic—and of course, he is not an Old Calendarist since he follows the new calendar, in contrast to Fr. Savvas.

But behold, Fr. Dimos writes a few hours ago: "It is now evident that the media not only promote almost exclusively ecumenist theologians, but when they ‘remember’ to also show the other side, they do so selectively and deliberately, inviting figures such as Savvas Lavriotis, known for certain anti-ecclesiastical practices and his opposition to saints, in order to ridicule the Orthodox resistance. If they want a real dialogue, let them finally invite Fr. Theodoros Zisis, a theologian of stature, ethos, patristic formation, and clear speech."

Because Fr. Savvas and Fr. Zisis were and are in conflict…

We will mention that we had previously referred to Fr. Euthymios Trikaminas, who also has no connection with the other two walled-off priests, even though he too is walled-off. We had pointed out that a struggle carried out by accusing their brothers will not be successful. God does not bless such “struggles,” because there is no humble mindset, and the walling off ends up being a display of egotistical pride. The difference is that the walled-off are worse than the Old Calendarists, because the Old Calendarists, during the time of their own struggle, faced truncheons from gendarmes, exiles, defrockings, cutting of beards and hair (Fr. Euthymios Trikaminas, in a personal conversation with us, had questioned those brutal persecutions!!!), and many other things. The walled-off, counted on the fingers of two hands, managed to become divided among themselves, having no communion with one another, resulting in each one having his own “group”—and for this reason, God will allow them to be stigmatized just like the Old Calendarists, namely as schismatics and outside the Church!

Very rightly had the renowned Fr. Theodoretos [Mavros] stated:

“There may be various Synods of the Old Calendar, but this does not touch upon the essence of their entirely traditional struggle, nor does it create any justification for the New Calendarists to remain in their heresy. Let them dare to carry out walling off, and let them not unite with them. Only then will they realize how difficult unity is in such struggles. Now [i.e., back then, before they walled off], their judgments resemble the admonitions of a well-dressed spectator in the stands of a stadium toward a sweat-soaked yet victorious athlete of the field…”

 

Greek source: https://entoytwnika1.blogspot.com/2025/05/blog-post_32.html

 

A matter of time?

O Sotir | May 26, 2025

 

The death of Pope Francis and the election and enthronement of his successor, Pope Leo XIV, brought to the surface once again the issue of the relations of Orthodoxy with the heterodox Christians.

It is a fact that the death of Pope Francis cancelled the planned meeting in May with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Nicaea, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary since the convening there (on May 20, 325) of the First Ecumenical Council.

Indeed, on the occasion of the coincidence in the year 2025 of the celebration of Pascha with the heterodox Christians of the West, it was being planned to establish henceforth a common date for the feast. And more importantly, it appears that it had been agreed for this date to be determined on the basis of the Orthodox calendar. Something that would constitute a trap for the Orthodox, so that they would not react to the insidious plan.

But the secret plans of men are one thing, and the counsels of God are another. At the very last moment, the Pope departed from this life, and the spectacle in Nicaea was cancelled. Was this death, then, accidental? And should not this development cause reflection among those who are hastening to take steps toward rapprochement with the Papists?

In his meeting with Pope Leo, immediately after his enthronement, the Ecumenical Patriarch brought up the issue again; however, the new Pope did not appear willing to continue the policy of his predecessor—at least regarding the matter of the common celebration, with the adjustment of the papal calculation of the date to that of Orthodoxy.

He did, however, promise that within the year he would meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch in Nicaea, in order to jointly honor the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council.

The plan for a common celebration was yet another step toward practical union with the Papists, as has been the case for years now with other similar events, given that the theological dialogue has reached an impasse. For the time being, with the reshuffling in the realm of Papism, it seems that the worst has been avoided.

But all these plans are always directed toward that goal: union in practice. And, at first glance, it seems that the achievement of this goal is a matter of time, if one takes into account the frequent moves in that direction. Especially if one observes the general erosion of the Orthodox mindset, primarily among the clergy, since even recently there has been no lack of distressing pro-Papist statements on the occasion of the Pope’s passing.

In any case, we must not forget that above all men, whatever rank they may hold, and beyond their plans, is God. And just as He has now nullified the trap of the common celebration, we hope that in the future also He will protect our Orthodoxy.

At the same time, we are obliged to be in heightened vigilance, so that at the very least our mindset may be preserved intact and, if required, that we too may bear our witness in an apostate world, which is gradually and increasingly compromising with demonic delusion.

 

Greek source: https://www.osotir.org/2025/05/26/thema-chronou/

Testament of the Venerable Father Theodosius of the Kiev Caves (+1074)

This is a rather stern but fundamentally true instruction for Orthodox Christians.

 

Lord, give the blessing! I, Theodosius, the miserable slave of the All-Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, was born in the pure and right-believing faith and brought up in good teaching by an Orthodox father and mother.

Do not commune with the Latin [Roman Catholic] faith, do not attach yourselves to their customs, flee from their communion, avoid all their teachings and abhor their morals.

Beware, my children, of the crooked in faith and their conversations, for our land has been filled to the full with them. If anyone will save his soul, then let him only live in the Orthodox Faith, for there is no other faith better than our pure and holy Orthodox Faith.

Living in this faith, you do not only escape sins and eternal torment, but become partakers of eternal life, and you will rejoice without end with the Saints. As for those who live in another faith: the [Roman] Catholic, or the Muslim, or the Armenian - they shall not see eternal life.

Moreover, it is not right, my child, to praise another faith. He who praises another faith is as if he is blaspheming his own. If someone begins to praise both his own and another faith, then he is two-faithed, and close to heresy. But you, my child, observe such people, and constantly praise your own faith. Do not be friendly with them, but flee from them and struggle in your own faith through good works. Give alms not only to those of your own faith, but also to those of other faiths. If you see someone who is naked or hungry, or who has fallen into misfortune, - whether he be a Jew, or a Turk, or a Latin, - be merciful to every such person, deliver him from his misfortune as far as you are able, and you will not be deprived of a reward from God, for God Himself in the present age pours out His mercies not only on Christians, but also on the unfaithful. God cares in this life for the pagans and those of other faiths, but in the future age they will be alienated from the eternal blessings. But we who live in the Orthodox Faith will receive all blessings from God both here, and in the future age our Lord Jesus Christ will save us.

My child, if you will even have to die for our holy Faith, go to your death with boldness. Thus did the Saints die for the faith, and now they are living in Christ. But you, my child, if you see people of other faiths quarrelling with the faithful, and trying to draw them away from the right faith by deception, help the Orthodox. In this way you will, as it were, save a sheep from the mouth of a lion. But if you are silent and leave them without help, then this is as if you took a redeemed soul from Christ and sold him to Satan.

If one who opposes you says: “Your faith and our faith are from God,” then you, my child, must reply as follows: “O crooked in faith! Or do you consider God also to be two-faithed! Have you not heard, you who have been corrupted by an evil faith, how Scripture says: ‘One God, one Faith, one Baptism’ (Eph.4.5)?

“Have you not heard the Apostle Paul saying: ‘If an angel comes from heaven and preaches to you a gospel that we have not preached to you, let him be anathema’ (Gal. 1.8).

“But you [Latins], who reject the apostolic teaching and the Holy Fathers, have received an incorrect and corrupted faith, full of destruction. Therefore, you are rejected by us. Therefore, it is not right that you should serve with us and approach the Divine Mysteries with us, neither should you approach our Mysteries, nor we to yours, because you are dead and offer a dead sacrifice, while we offer to the living God a pure and immaculate sacrifice in order to inherit eternal life.

“For thus is it written: ‘Give unto each according to his works' in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ To Him be the glory. Amen.”

 

Source: The Shepherd: An Orthodox Christian Pastoral Magazine, Vol. XLV, No. 9, May 2025, pp. 11-12.

 

Saint Pachomios and the Challenge of the Heretics

Some heretical ascetics once went to the monastery of Saint Pachomios, who concealed the wolf within themselves beneath garments of coarse hair. Arriving at the gate, they told the brothers that their elder was sending them to the great Pachomios, and they added: “Go then and tell him: if you are truly a man of God and believe that God hears you, come, let us cross this river together on foot, so that all may know who among us has greater boldness before God.”

When the brothers told these things to Pachomios, he was indignant and said to them:

“Tell me, did you actually consent to listen to them? Do you not know that such proposals have nothing to do with God and are entirely inappropriate not only for the monastic life but even for laypeople who think rationally and are true Christians? What law, then, permits us to propose and carry out such things? And what indeed is more pitiable than this folly—than for me to abandon the mourning for my sins and the concern for how to escape eternal damnation, and to play games and occupy myself with such proposals?”

Then the brothers asked him: “So then, is it because they are heretics and alienated from God that they dared to invite you to such a lofty feat?”

“Yes,” he replied to them, “this proposal is of heretics. Have you not read what the Apostle says: ‘Because of their hardness and impenitent heart, God gave them over to their foolishness’? (Rom. 2:5; 1:28) These men, by God's allowance, might perhaps be able to cross the river as if on dry land, being helped by the devil, who seeks to confirm in their impious heresy those who rely on him, and to offer, through this spectacular act, a proof to some of those whom he has already deceived. But I have no need of such things. Go outside, then, and tell them: ‘Behold what the servant of God Pachomios answers you: My struggle and all my effort are not to cross a river on foot, or to fly over mountains, or to command beasts, but to have the judgment of God in my mind and to overleap the snares of the devil by the power of the Lord, who gave us the command to tread upon serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). For if the Lord grants me these things, then all the others will follow as well.’”

After these words, the elder continued, urging the brothers not to be proud of their achievements, nor to desire visions, nor to tempt God by asking Him for such things, because the snares of the devil, who wages war against us, are many. And he added that all these things are unnecessary and dangerous for any person, since even the very Word of God, the Savior, said to the enemy devil: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matt. 4:7).

 

(Evergetinos, Volume III, Hypothesis 35)

 

Greek source: https://imlp.gr/2025/05/24/%ce%bf-%ce%ac%ce%b3%ce%b9%ce%bf%cf%82-%cf%80%ce%b1%cf%87%cf%8e%ce%bc%ce%b9%ce%bf%cf%82-%ce%ba%ce%b1%ce%b9-%ce%b7-%cf%80%cf%81%cf%8c%ce%ba%ce%bb%ce%b7%cf%83%ce%b7-%cf%84%cf%89%ce%bd-%ce%b1%ce%b9%cf%81/

The Undead Wolf-Shepherds of World Orthodoxy

Porphyry | May 26, 2025

 

An abundance of ink has been consumed, both physical and electronic, with the purpose of informing and strengthening the people of God, as well as awakening the bishops, due to the deadly spiritual paralysis brought about by the pan-heresy of Ecumenism. The uncatechized and indifferent people are sailing crookedly, following the private path of their contemporary wolf-shepherds. Those among the people who have good intent acquire a good uneasiness and are informed in an Orthodox manner concerning the Faith. As for the wolf-shepherds who speak perverted things, we no longer know whether this method of awakening is of any further benefit. As for the heretics, the word is clear: “after the first and second admonition, reject.” [1]

But with the wolf-shepherds, what is to be done? The presentation of apologetical and anti-heretical texts has been going on for many years. We present words from Holy Scripture, words from the Holy Fathers, [2] with the purpose of finding the slightest trace of good intention — of stirring some pure aspect of their heart... As much as a corpse responds, just as much do the conscience-dead wolf-shepherds respond. Their pride is diabolical; some, when reproved, become even more enraged. Feeble old men, instead of preparing, in repentance, to meet the Judge of the Universe, puff themselves up foolishly until their last breath — why? To fulfill some mission? And in this case, the dissolution and submission of Orthodoxy to the Antichrist? Fools, “this night” [3] your souls shall be required of you; “it is high time for us to awake out of sleep” [4]...

Suitable words have not yet been found, and the spiritual decay is spreading into all areas. Besides, we do not believe that more suitable words will be found than those from the Saints, Scripture, and the Fathers. They do not perceive the consequences of the spiritual laws due to their apostasy. The signs of the times, being blind, they do not see. They continue to conduct themselves in their own world, with celebrations, festivals, a spirit of “seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.” [5] “They are of the world; therefore, they speak of the world.” [6] It is now evident: “they are not of God,” [7] they do not have the Spirit of God! “He that is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error,” [8] says the Evangelist of love, John the Theologian, giving us the criterion for the discernment of spirits. The wolf-shepherds are not of God, because they do not listen to the evangelical word. They have already handed over the “keys” of the Church to the Antichrist.

It is now a fact: the voice of our shepherds is foreign, we do not recognize it, we do not understand it, and we have ceased to follow them. Are we then a flock without a shepherd? No! We have a Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, Who “lays down His life for the sheep.” [9] He cares for us. We recognize His sweet and loving voice and follow Him, all who are faithful, walking with confidence behind Him. By His grace, we walk the spiritual course, overcoming obstacles, such as that of the dark corona-slavery. The Good Shepherd will never forsake us. He has His own Hierarchs, few and persecuted, His own Priests, His own little flock. “My sheep,” says the Crucified Love, “hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand”! [10] Do we need any other assurance?

 

[1] Titus 3:10

[2] From both of which kinds of sayings, the wolf-shepherds are in complete ignorance.

[3] Luke 12:20

[4] Romans 13:11

[5] 1 Timothy 4:1

[6] 1 John 4:5

[7] 1 John 4:3

[8] 1 John 4:6

[9] John 10:11

[10] John 10:27–28

 

Greek source: https://aktines.blogspot.com/2025/05/blog-post_976.html

On a 2016 Sunday of Orthodoxy Sermon by Metropolitan George Khodr of Mount Lebanon

From: Bishop Chrysostomos [of Etna]

Subject: Re: Bishop George Khodr, Sunday of Orthodoxy 2016 - English

Date: 2 April 2016 16:43:38 GMT+01:00

 

Dear Michael:

Evlogia Kyriou. Thank you for translating the sermon by the Antiochian Prelate.

He is right. His “Orthodoxy" is no different from the confessions of other Christians. He gives no credence to Holy Tradition, gives no heed to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, and apparently shows no honor to the Fathers and Saints and Martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of correct faith and correct confession. Why bother to be Orthodox? While I am the first to follow the Fathers in fostering respect and toleration between religions, I do not do so in a cognitive vacuum where such respect and toleration, instead of rising out of thought, inner formation, and civilized discourse, come forth from equating truth with falsehood, good thought with superstition, and haplessly imagining that religion is not a search for the truth of Truths.

I am not surprised at this man's ecumenical platitudes, but I have never read such a clear expression of heresy and disbelief in the context of a “piety” that is totally empty, since the very things that he says that he upholds—such as prayer to the Theotokos—he also dismisses as ultimately meaningless or insignificant. Astonishing. He at least reveals to us that ecumenism, where he is a well-known voice, is an intellectually empty farce, when taken to the extreme of simply reducing all things to one common statement that is devoid of content. Ecumenists apparently accept any belief, as long it does not impede their own belief, however ignorant and the opposing belief and however unexamined and superficial their own “confessionless” confession. The folly of mere religion and “official” Orthodoxy in pure form. 

These people are insidious, ignorant in the Faith, and “ecclesiastical” diplomats more than anything else. It is a tragedy for their souls that such clergymen teach what is false and condemnable, and we must pray for them. But think of the innocents who, looking to them for leadership, are led to religious syncretism of the most base kind, “ecclesiological agnosticism,” as another ecumenical clergyman once described his beliefs to me, and the destruction of souls. A teaching about belief and spiritual experience—which for Orthodox are empirical (part of an encounter with God and the Truth)—that mocks the conceptualization of the truth in principles, dogmas, and theological truths is like a science that equates superstition with observable, replicable, and operative laws and formulae.

With affection in Christ, Least Among Monks, † BC

 

Orthodoxy By Bishop George Khodr

Translator's Note. The following is a translation of an article written in Arabic for the Sunday of Orthodoxy 2016 by the veteran Antiochian arch-ecumenist Bishop George Khodr. It appeared in the Lebanese Al-Nahar Newspaper* on Saturday March 19, 2016 (New Style).  

As the enlightened true Orthodox reader will see, this ecumenist's heretical and delusional ideology spills out of the page!  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Great Lent in my church, and it is called Sunday of Orthodoxy, which, in Arabic, means the Sunday of Right Belief. Since the fourth century or around that period, right belief for its proponents has meant the un-adulterated tradition which they have received from the ancients. And contrary to this right belief is heresy. In this article, Right Belief means maintaining the sound dogma featured in the Gospels for Christians who accept the Seven Ecumenical Councils, and these are seven for the Catholics and the Orthodox, and for others they are less than that, with the reassurance that all Christians do not differ in the tenor (i.e. content/meaning – trans.) of their faith, even if some confess only four councils that are binding and others seven or more.  

To put it very simply, there is no essential difference in dogma between Christians. They all believe in the Crucifixion of the Master, His Resurrection, and the Trinity, and anything else is just details. Generally and surely, the faith of the Christians is one or used to be one before the [Roman – trans.] Catholic Church declared the primacy of the Pope and his infallibility a dogma in 1870. 

We and the Catholics and the Evangelicals, speak one thing in Christ. However, if most of us declare that He has two natures, and some of us that he has one nature, the essence of the speech is one, that is God and man together. There isn't a group that fuses the Divinity of the Master with his humanity, by separating one from the other. In the truth of the meaning intended, even if the expressions differ, there is absolutely no difference between us when talking about the essence of Christ. We have differed in speech but not in the truth of our faith. So, if faith was faith in what is Christ, then there is no difference between any Christian group and another group.  

When it comes to speaking of Christ, we are all of correct belief. The rest is speech other than Christ. The declaration of the Church of Rome in 1870 that Papal Supremacy and Infallibility is a dogma was something new. Does the Catholic Church today exclude us from Right Belief if we don't speak of a dogma she declared in the year 1870 only as an official declaration, and by that I mean the supremacy of the Roman Pope and his infallibility? What I do know is that the Church of Rome does not consider the Orthodox Church in a state of heresy. She sees it as in a state of schism, and the schism occurs in the one church and does not constitute two churches. To be precise, the Orthodox and the Catholics are in a state of estrangement as long as no official position is declared from either one, wronging (or criticizing – trans.) the other dogmatically.  

Does the dogma of Papal Supremacy and Infallibility declared in 1870 comprise an express criticism of the Orthodox Church? Each one calling the other a 'sister church' is not a naming out of politeness, but of conviction. It does not mean another independent entity. Until now, I have not found a Catholic text accusing the Orthodox of dogmatic and ecclesiastical deviation. We are then in a state of symmetry between brethren. In theology we don't use terminology for social civility. And no matter how much the dispute tightens among the fanatics, what is important is their unity, which Christ sees.  

I accept from among the Christians whoever does not address Mary in prayer, as long he does not blaspheme [literally, “consider an infidel” – trans.] those who do address her. Pray as you wish and don't separate me from you. I know from among the Protestants those who love Mary very much. They don't address her in prayer; that is their business as long as they don't blaspheme me if I address her. I have nothing against whoever does not love nor address Mary, as long as he leaves me free to address her. I am saddened that a Christian refuses to address Mary, but I do not compel him if he sees that in doing that he becomes lacking in his love for Christ.  

Whoever sees that in his intercessions of the Saints, he diminishes from his love for Jesus, that is up to him, and whoever sees that he loves the Saints with Jesus, that is up to him also. Let us not blaspheme each other (i.e., declare each other infidels – trans.) for no reason. God shall judge whomever He wishes if His judgment is at hand. Don't rush in judgment according to your own will. Who am I to judge anyone? God alone is the judge.  

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Translated from Arabic by Michael Chacra.

* The original can be found here: 

http://www.ortmtlb.org.lb/index.php/an-nahar-articles/an-nahar-archives/113-an-nahar-2016/1440

Do you know those whom we, the clever ones, mockingly call “Old Calendarists”? (Updated)

Words of Protopresbyter George Metallinos (+2019), Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology at the University of Athens

Do you know that those whom we, the clever ones, mockingly call Old Calendarists—today we are beginning to understand how greatly we wronged them? Because we did not hold the Thermopylae as they did, they who are so few...

We retreated and continue to retreat constantly. The devil is robbing us little by little and skillfully. So many steps have been taken (i.e., the lifting of anathemas, recognition of mysteries, acceptance of episcopacy and primacy of honor), with the clear goal of union between the Orthodox, Papists, etc.

And behold, today, before the common chalice and the papal primacy of authority, the people of God sleep.

And the saddest thing is that those who are hostile toward the honorable and sincere Old Calendarists think that in doing so they are cleansing their stained and betrayed faith. But time will admonish them, and then, together with all the conservative clergy of the new calendar, they will realize that the struggle for the Orthodox Faith which they will begin so late is none other than the struggle that our Old Calendarist grandfathers began so many years ago…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ak8KU5Zpc

Greek source: https://pneumatoskoinwnia.blogspot.com/2024/03/blog-post_4.html

Addendum: The corrected published quote (with a scan of the page), as furnished by the blog

https://entoytwnika1.blogspot.com/2025/05/blog-post_11.html:

The “tragic” conservative New Calendarists        

[Interviewer:] These were heard by the humble Mytileneans during their visit to the Phanar (photo). Their parish priest, the loud-voiced Father Thanasis, is probably one of those tragic figures of the State Church who, because they have something within them, are trying to build where their directed superiors have removed the ruins. He is among the few fighters who “beat the air” and fight with zeal, but—alas!—in vain, in order to defend a cause which has already decided to retreat and surrender to the enemy.

[Fr. George:] The saddest thing is that they are hostile toward the honorable and sincere Old Calendarists who live in Mytilene, thinking that in this way they cleanse their stained and betrayed faith. Time, however, will admonish them. The intentions will be revealed. The plans and programs will become deeds, and then, together with all the conservative clergy of the New Calendar, they will understand that the struggle they are beginning today is among the most unreliable. For it is the struggle that their Old Calendarist grandfathers have already begun here so many years ago. When, therefore, the dust of the dialogues and great agreements settles, we will not only see betrayed priests, but, what is worse, a pyramid, at the top of which will stand only the gold-crowned papal latrine of the pope. Read below some fragments that fell from the table of the suspicious ecumenistic schemes. We have not often been witnesses of such belated candor. Many endless hidden desires slipped through.