Letter of Protest from the G.O.C. Community in Montreal Concerning the 1974 Encyclical, "Thus Do We Believe, Thus Do We Speak"

 

Montreal, 18 November 1974

Dear Director,

We, the undersigned, along with many other brethren, had the blessing of God to remain far from the heresies that flood our adopted homeland, Canada, and to remain Orthodox.

A few years ago, having been shown mercy by the Lord, we followed the Church of the G.O.C. and remained under the spiritual dependence of Bishop Akakios Ntouskos. That is to say, we returned to the Old Calendar.

This decision of ours became the cause for us to become the target of mockery and ridicule from relatives and friends who follow the New Calendar. Among other things, they reproached us for having as our Shepherd a completely unqualified Bishop, that the Church of the Annunciation which he founded through the money and contributions of faithful Christians he exploits, and that he gives account to no one, that the church building is registered in the names of members of his family, that his sister governs autocratically, and that he ordained unworthy clergymen: a Deacon and a Priest.

At first, we did not pay attention to the above accusations. It was enough for us that our Bishop was Orthodox and rightly divided the Word of Truth. Unfortunately, we were disappointed in our expectations.

We feel guilty, because through our signatures we requested from the Synod of the G.O.C. his ordination as Bishop.

Recently, an Encyclical came like an atomic bomb, issued by our Holy Synod and also signed by our Bishop. The Encyclical stated that all those who come to the Old Calendar must be re-chrismated, regardless of whether they are not Jehovah’s Witnesses, Evangelicals, or other heretics. And our Bishop began to re-chrismate the faithful. Of course, the innocent victims of this foolish Encyclical are few, but the scandal took on proportions, and we became a spectacle and subject of laughter and ridicule on the part of the Orthodox compatriots, even among the Russians of [Metropolitan] Philaret who follow the Old Calendar.

But our Bishop, Mr. Akakios, also contradicts himself, chrismating some—the simple-minded—and not chrismating others—the stubborn or well-off; some he threatens with penances, and others he drives away from the Church because they do not submit.

What is scandalous and inexplicable to us is that, while he demands chrismation from us, let him answer us publicly: his brother-in-law, Mr. Dimitrios Ryan—who, according to our information, is of Jewish descent and Catholic by religion, and who happens to be a member of our Church—how was he received? Through baptism or through chrismation? If it was through chrismation—which was done in the presence of witnesses—then when and where did the baptism take place? (Unless chrismation alone is sufficient.) We are also aware of the recent sorrowful events that have taken place. In light of these things, we deemed it necessary to turn to a proper spiritual Father, such as the holy Bishop of Astoria, Mr. Petros, who has as many years in the priesthood as the Bishop of Canada, Mr. Akakios, has in life, so that he might hear our confessions and give us spiritual counsel. As you can understand, due to the age and experience of the holy Bishop of Astoria, many people gathered to receive counsel and confess. When Mr. Akakios Ntouskos was informed of the number of those confessing, he became enraged and imposed penances: 100 prostrations a day, 3 months abstention from Holy Communion, and reading 8 chapters of Holy Scripture daily.

Every Sunday and feast day, the church of Mr. Akakios Ntouskos is filled with New Calendarists, whom he does indeed hear in confession, but deprives of Holy Communion. Is one of these a Mystery and the other not? He also imposed on certain brethren to sever all ties with us. Is this exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ taught? “DO NOT LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”

Dear Director, have we perhaps erred in following the Old Calendar, since our Shepherds are not leading us to salvific paths? We pray and hope in God that they may come to a realization, to the glory and triumph of our Immaculate Orthodoxy and to the shame of the various heretics.

These, in brief, are the things taking place in our revered homeland, Canada, and we address an appeal to you, Mr. Director, that you may publish them for the awareness of the faithful Christians.

With Christian love, on behalf of many brethren:

Konnos Tzivelekis,

Christos Manikis,

Euthymia Oikonomou,

Maria Dimakou,

P. Tziveleki.

 

Greek source: https://entoytwnika1.blogspot.com/2025/03/44.html