1978 Proclamation of the Hierarchy of the Official Church of Greece Concerning Procreation

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece

October 9, 1978

To the entire Greek People

Beloved children in the Lord,

Forty years ago, the Hierarchy of our Church had addressed “to the Holy Clergy and the pious Greek People” a message of concern and a paternal exhortation regarding the fundamental issue for the Greek family and our country: the declining procreation and upbringing of children.

That proclamation of the Hierarchy, dated from the year 1937, placed everyone before their responsibilities concerning this great crisis, which the family is undergoing even in our country, as well as the Homeland and the Nation, due to the alarming low birth rate of the people.

This crisis is primarily a moral and social crisis. It is not unrelated to the shaking of the living Christian Faith.

A product of this apostasy is the acute problem today of the avoidance of childbearing or of having few children.

However, it is the will of God to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” And the return and conformity to the will of God was pointed out by the voice of the Church, through its Hierarchy at that time to the people. Now there arises a pressing need for this exhortation to be repeated today as well, and for the Mother Church to renew through this present proclamation what she declared forty years ago to her children.

During the intervening years, not only did that alarming situation not cease, but the avoidance of childbearing and the bearing of few children has taken on unimaginable proportions. And what can we say about the dreadful abortions, the number of which reaches hundreds of thousands each year? This entire campaign against births has created a tremendous moral issue and an acute demographic and national problem.

For this reason, as responsible shepherds of the Church, we address:

To the Government of the Country and the National Parliamentary representation, and we call upon them to in no way proceed with the legal sanctioning of abortions, because they are crimes against emerging life and the existence of the unborn new offspring of the Nation. Furthermore, they should not neglect the necessary measures and provisions to encourage the increase of procreation and to relieve those who bear the burdens of childbirth, maintenance, and upbringing of children.

We address all married men, to remind them of their duty, that “lawful marriage and the procreation from it” should “faithfully follow the will of the Creator for the assistance and continuation of the human race,” and we exhort all and each one in particular: “let him take up his cross.”

This duty is indeed a “cross.” But the Christian is called by the Savior Christ to lift and to bear, as He did, “his cross,” and not to renounce fundamental obligations.

Let all, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross” (Heb. 12:2), not hesitate before the burdens of family life, and especially the bearing of children “round about their table.” It is a great blessing and gift of God, the calling “that their house may be filled.”

We also address the women, the pious Greek Orthodox Christian women, and we paternally encourage them to sacrifice “worldly desires” (Titus 2:12) for the sake of the family and the upbringing of children.

Let them also avoid all contraceptive means and methods. They have the duty of procreation, and they are obliged “to do this with joy and not with groaning” (Heb. 13:7), so that they may also “have a good conscience” (ibid. 18), calm and without reproach. Then the blessing of God comes abundantly upon the family, and “the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6) is avoided.

We further address a fervent appeal to the medical community, and especially to specialized physicians, never to collaborate in abortions and not to become “men of blood.” Fearing God, let them give life to the unborn children, and in accordance with their oath, let them avoid “abortifacient drugs.” Rather, let them contribute—through their authority and medical influence—to the encouragement of pregnancy among expectant women. Let them offer only positive contribution and good services to these women and to society.

We call, furthermore, upon those exercising the ministry of spiritual fatherhood—the most reverent confessor Priests—and we command synodally that “they all speak the same thing” (1 Cor. 1:10) concerning this most serious matter, in accordance with the line drawn by the Hierarchy (through the previous Encyclical of 1937), and that they not deviate from this line. They have the duty to inspire this mindset—the only truly Orthodox one—in those who confess, cultivating them in faith and hope toward God, “Who will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

We call, finally, upon all men and women to a crusade for the increase of the number of children, “according to the measure of the gift of God,” to families. And we beseech you, “as though God were beseeching through us” (2 Cor. 5:20), to hear this message with much “compunction of heart.” Instead of anxiety and distress about the future of our children and of the Nation, it is preferable that all accept the good struggle of raising more children, for the benefit also of our entire Society.

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy is not unaware that there also exist difficult circumstances and problematic, and at times even dangerous, cases regarding this issue of procreation and the upbringing of children. Whether due to financial reasons, or because of living conditions and the professional occupations of women, etc., or also due to health reasons, the problem that arises is not simple, but often acute.

In order to face these difficulties, many seek some kind of solution. Yet the only Christianly acceptable solution—through marital abstinence—is usually regarded as a “narrow gate and a straitened way” (Matt. 7:14), and as a burden heavy and hard to bear. For most, it is considered unattainable, “and few there be that find it.” Therefore, a gentler solution is sought and presented as desirable—some form of ecclesiastical economy and condescension.

Nevertheless, the delicate and sensitive conscience of Christians, both men and women, does not find rest in leniencies and concessions. It remains uneasy, despite any possible allowance or “economy.” It considers such a measure not valid before God, and uncertain, and “unprofitable for us” (Heb. 13:17) with regard to the unhindered participation and communion in Divine Grace and the Holy Mysteries.

For this reason, the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy is not able to make a decision, contrary to the Holy Canons, regarding the exercise of “ecclesiastical economy,” as many request for certain exceptional cases. For such cases, if there exists a real and insurmountable reason (primarily illness), the competent spiritual fathers will provide the appropriate solution, applying what is prescribed by the Holy Canons.

In this regard, we express our fervent sympathy toward all who, faithfully and in a manner pleasing to God, strive in the good fight of faith within the framework of the Christian family.

Let them be certain that happiness is reserved for them, to be able to say with righteous pride, “Behold I and the children whom God hath given me.” Especially for women, the work of motherhood is a matter of salvation, as the divine Apostle said: “(the woman) shall be saved through childbearing.” On the contrary, the children sacrificed and slaughtered through abortions will demand their blood from their merciless and unrepentant parents. And this shall be their condemnation.

Finally, blessing the better and especially the large family, we assure it that it shall always have our paternal support.

And may the Lord bless our pious Nation and “save it unto the uttermost.”

With fervent prayers,

The Hierarchy of the Church of Greece

 

Greek source: https://stwmenkalws.blogspot.com/2020/08/9-10-1978.html