Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica and Boeotia | May 10, 2025
On the occasion of the repose and
funeral of the departed pope, as well as the election of the new one, we have
become spectators of an outburst of pro-papist propaganda, both from the mass
media and even from clerics of Orthodox background.
The news bulletins proceeded with
lengthy reports “with tears” on the deeds and days of the previous pope,
praising, of course, his “progressive” policy on matters of social interest,
despite the clear, opposing injunctions of Holy Scripture.
Then, they covered all the
details concerning his funeral with such meticulousness that it becomes clear
the whole phenomenon is part of an organized effort to increase the pope’s
popularity in our homeland, while also raising the following simple question:
would there be such emotion and coverage by the Greek media at the funeral of an
Orthodox Patriarch of the Romans?
Something that, to those who
understand, caused a deeply painful impression is the celebration and the
shivers of emotion expressed by the journalists over the “Christ is Risen” that
was chanted in Greek by individuals wearing Orthodox liturgical vestments—so as
to mislead many, who were unaware that these men in question were Uniates, that
is, papist “clergymen” who employ the deceitful practice of preserving the
external appearance of the Orthodox, a favored invention of the papists for
seizing the faithful from Orthodoxy, absorbing them into delusion.
It would be an omission not to
mention the focus of the news reports on the presence of numerous heads of
state at the funeral of the former pope and their congratulations on the
election of the new one. However, what the news bulletins failed to mention was
the explanation that all this response from the heads of state is due to the
fact that they were addressing, primarily, one of their own counterparts, given
that the reigning pope is the head of the State of the Vatican, and not—as was
perhaps the desire of some to promote—the “leader” of global Christendom.
And while the mass media
responded in this way—something in many respects understandable, given that
they are staffed by secular individuals who, for the most part, lack knowledge
of Orthodox teaching—we also read and heard the opinions of clerics, so favorably
disposed toward papism, that not only did they leave us in wonder, but they
even went so far as to oppose the centuries-old stance of the Orthodox Church,
including that of eminent Holy Fathers, against the papist false teachings. Of
course, Ecumenism, from its very inception, has made many things into an
indistinct “hodgepodge,” mixing, according to its favored tactic, truth with
falsehood, delusion, and heresy. Consequently, its by-product is the so-called
Orthodox themselves, who, while allegedly desiring to approach all manner of
heretics in the name of an undefined love, end up approaching them by rejecting
Orthodox doctrine. Thus, the word of our Lord is confirmed: “No one can serve
two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he
will hold to the one and despise the other.”
Specifically, we heard from a
high-ranking cleric the invocation of the intercession of “Saint Francis of
Assisi” for the repose of the soul of the departed pope, as if papists were
recorded in the hagiological registers. I cannot fail to mention at this point,
as the ultimate irony, the memorial service held months ago for Saint Gregory
V. On the one hand, memorials are conducted for true Saints of the Orthodox
Church, who shed their blood for the Faith and the homeland, and on the other,
individuals—perhaps good according to human standards, yet nonetheless outside
of Orthodoxy—are commemorated as “saints.”
We also witnessed a combative
stance against the condemnation of heretical doctrines by the Orthodox Church,
as if it were supposedly the result of the Orthodox occupying themselves with
“meaningless theological issues,” one of which being the “filioque.”
Hear, hear... “In vain,” then, according to the ecumenists from among the
Orthodox, did Saints Photios the Great, Gregory Palamas, and Mark of Ephesus
struggle against the Latins...
I do not intend to proceed to a
theological analysis of what has been said. I will, however, express a few
simple concerns: we have heard and continue to hear the reference to the
papists—and to any kind of heretics—as “Church.” Why then, in the “Symbol of
Faith,” do we say that we believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church?
This question is not a “play on words.” Certain words carry a weight that we
must not overlook lightly.
Then, it is customary for the
pope to be called “His Holiness.” We understand that, in many cases, this is
simply a form of address, but many among the Orthodox believe this title to be
true, as has been shown. We ask ourselves: did not Christ say, “He who believes
and is BAPTIZED shall be saved”? Did He not also say to His Disciples, “Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”? If I am not mistaken, “to
baptize” means “to immerse something in water.” The papists, then, long ago abolished
the command of baptism, since they merely pour a little water on the head. Is
it or is it not a command of Christ that we be baptized and not sprinkled? Let
us refer again to the Gospel: “Whoever, therefore, shall break one of the least
of these commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the
kingdom of heaven.” Do we believe or do we not believe in Christ? Christ has
spoken clearly; therefore, any attempt at post-patristic interpretation of
Orthodox theology is nothing but misleading and hypocritical.
The very Evangelist of love, John
the Theologian, states: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him.” Why does he say
this? Is it because he hates heretics? No. He simply knows that if an Orthodox
believer shows that he unreservedly accepts heretical doctrines, he deprives
the heretic of the opportunity to be stirred, to repent, and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. The greatest love is inseparable from the Christian’s
desire for the salvation of the whole world, and not from fine words and
well-wishing. For this salvation to be attained, certain conditions are
required. If we truly love, we will help our brother understand his error. We
will help him with our discerning word, with our prayer, and with our radiant
life. To say, “I love you all and may your passions and delusions be blessed,”
is certainly very easy—but it is certainly not love.
Before closing, I would like to
express one more concern which, in my humble opinion, says much about how the
papists viewed—or continue to view—Orthodoxy and Hellenism: how is it that the
four Greek ancient Patriarchates, as well as Orthodox autocephalous Churches,
are held captive under the crescent or have suffered under communism, in
complete contrast to the papist states? Undoubtedly, for Saint Cosmas of
Aetolia to have said in his time, “curse the pope,” he must have had a very
serious reason and a very strong basis.
Certainly, times pass and there
is the possibility of improvement. However, history cannot be erased. The
schism exists. Unfortunately, about one and a half billion people belong to the
papist sphere, separated from the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,
because certain Westerners of old wished to secede from Orthodoxy in order to
serve interests and ambitions arising from excessive pride. Our wish and prayer
is that all these people may come to the light of the truth, which only
Orthodoxy can offer, regardless of the fact that we Orthodox are numerically
far fewer than the vast number of papists and other heretics. “The good is not
in the multitude”; and beneath the Cross, the faithful could be counted on the
fingers of two hands. Yet they constituted the Church.
† Chrysostomos of Attica and
Boeotia
Greek source:
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