Conservative “Orthodox” — The Trojan Horse of Ecumenism

Ioannis N. Paparrigas | August 24, 2012

We read on a page of an “anti-ecumenist” theologian some comments regarding the statement of Metropolitan Kosmas of Aetolia against the Old Calendarists.

He states:

It is at the very least laughable — and certainly untheological — to fight against the heretical “Baptismal theology” of His Eminence [John] of Pergamon and the “divided Church” of His Eminence [Chrysostomos] of Messinia, while at the same time recognizing valid mysteries among the schismatic and heretical Old Calendarists who are outside the Church!!!

Is it not laughable — and certainly untheological — to fight against the heretical “Baptismal theology” of His Eminence of Pergamon and the “divided Church” of His Eminence of Messinia, while at the same time your Bishops recognize valid mysteries among the schismatic and heretical Papists who are outside the Church? Is it not laughable and certainly untheological to commemorate, concelebrate with, and receive these Bishops into their cities as if nothing is happening?

What should we recall first? Balamand, Chambésy, the Encyclical of the Patriarchate of Antioch in support of the Monophysites... what should we recall first?

Since when do we believe that heretics and schismatics perform valid mysteries?

Since the time when the Bishops whom you commemorate and are in communion with proclaimed those very positions!! When?? We have written a few of the many things above!!!

Where did the Old Calendarists find the priesthood and episcopacy in order to perform valid mysteries?

Although you know this very well, perhaps you should ask yourselves — and also ask the Bishops with whom you are in communion and whom you commemorate — where the Papists, the Monophysites, and the Protestants found the priesthood and episcopacy in order to perform valid mysteries! Ask the Bishops, we repeat, with whom you are in communion and whom you commemorate!

Unfortunately, despite the clear warnings of the wise canonist and holy Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos, who codified and summarized the Church’s teaching regarding the parallel danger of Ecumenism and schism, many traditional believers — even leading figures of the anti-ecumenist struggle — treat the schismatic and heretical Old Calendarists as if they were supposedly members of the Church.

What clear warning did Fr. Epiphanios write against the Ecumenists? Do you perhaps mean the “until the appointed time” commemoration of heretical Bishops? Is that a warning or an ENCOURAGEMENT in their favor?

Such “warnings” became the Trojan horse of Ecumenism!!!

In his well-known book “The Two Extremes: Ecumenism and Zealotry,” Fr. Epiphanios writes that the Orthodox can have ecclesiastical communion with the heretical Ecumenists and condemns as schismatics the Orthodox of the Patristic Calendar who walled themselves off from the Ecumenist “bishops”!

How many Churches are there, in totality, to justify the Old Calendarists being considered a Church?

But it’s simple! Ask your Bishops and from them you will receive the appropriate answer! Shall we help you with simple words? Why, they will tell you that the “Church is divided” and indeed must be reunited! Do you not know this “theology” of the ecumenist bishops with whom you are in communion and whom you commemorate — regardless of whether you, as you write, disagree with them!

Go ahead and ask them: Are the Papists, Monophysites, and Protestants a Church — yes or no? Do they belong to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church — yes or no?

You supposedly seek to find out whether the Old Calendarists are a Church, and you have forgotten that the Pope is commemorated and recognized as the canonical Bishop of Rome by the Bishops with whom YOU are in communion! And you ask whether the Old Calendarists are a Church?

The wisest comment was that of a dear friend who wrote: “Ecumenism has managed to make even words lose their meaning... Mr. Kosmas of ‘Aetolia’ says he does not recognize our mysteries! That is pleasing… because if Mr. Kosmas, who is in communion with his Ecumenist superiors Bartholomew and the other Ecumenist forces — who are in communion with the Vatican — were to recognize us, then we would not feel well…” That was the simplest yet also the wisest comment!!

Beloved!

Do not pretend that you do not understand. You simply cannot believe that these “conservative” theories which you (I mean those of the same mindset) teach have become the Trojan horse of Ecumenism, which unfortunately, for many years now — and even more so today — has already begun the conquest!

Spiritual courage — not cowardice — is to admit it and to begin from now the implementation of the patristic teaching in PRACTICE! Otherwise, you will see things become even worse in the “Church” to which you belong, and you will also see the true face of the “Bishops” with whom you are in communion and whom you commemorate — and we hope it will not be too late by then.

We will continue to pray for you to acquire sobriety and repentance, and we will remind you of the word of the great father Fr. Georges Florovsky, where he states the following:

“Very often the measure of truth is the testimony of the minority. It is possible for the little flock to be the Catholic Church. Perhaps there are more heterodox than Orthodox. It is possible for the heretics to spread everywhere and for the Church to end up on the margins of history or to withdraw into the wilderness. This has happened repeatedly in history and it is very likely to happen again... The duty of obedience ceases when the bishop deviates from the catholic rule, and the people have the right to accuse him, even to depose him.”

(Protopresbyter G. Florovsky, Holy Scripture, Church, Tradition, publ. P. Pournaras, Thessaloniki, pp. 71 and 75)

Amen, may it be so!

 

Greek source: https://entoytwnika.blogspot.com/2012/08/blog-post_24.html