Monk Seraphim (Zisis) | October 21, 2025
Ecclesiastical current events
compel us once again to seek spiritual support in the writings of our Saints,
who passed through the same trials of the Church centuries ago and left us
their all-wise writings, before they began to strengthen us also through their
holy intercessions from Heaven to the Lord.
Unfortunately, the struggle
against the internal heresies within the [visible boundaries of the] Church and
the prospect of persecution and martyrdom at the hands of heretics for the sake
of the Orthodox Faith (and in connection with this – even more so – all that
concerns walling-off) are Orthodox “lessons” that are no longer taught except
in a few, countable “islands” within the Church. They are not taught in Clergy
Conferences, nor in Holy Monasteries, nor in circles and talks of Spiritual
Fathers and Brotherhoods – save for a very few – nor, of course, in the
Theological Schools, which are largely occupied by the successors of Masons
(documented Masons), academic theologians (Louveris, Balanos, Alivizatos,
Philippidis, etc.).
The related accounts in the Synaxaria,
the Letters of the Holy Fathers (such as St. Basil the Great), and the writings
of ecclesiastical history (such as St. Athanasius the Great), when (“whenever
and if”) they happen to reach the ears of the faithful, indeed provoke feelings
of admiration, doxology toward Christ, and even reverent tears for the titanic
struggles of the Fathers—but only up to that point! Our demonic age, and we
pitiable “eighth-day” people, are evidently unable to “bear” many burdens…
What are we to expect, when, for
example, even the majority (not all, thanks be to God) of the disciples of the
blessed Elders—Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes of Florina, and Archimandrite
Theophilos Zisopoulos of the Brotherhood of “Saint Lydia”—including those of
the Hellenic Orthodox Ecclesiastical Information Broadcast (4E), deemed it
better to align themselves with the many apostates rather than to endure
isolation with the few devoted Orthodox, and it seems that “they esteemed the
reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt”? [1] At times
perhaps under the pressure of threats and the fear of isolation, at other times
perhaps due to an inferiority complex toward the “networked” administrators
(who scorn the “Kantiotiki”), they have ultimately, “in these last
days,” reversed course and now proceed in a manner entirely contrary to the
path of their Elders, even collaborating with the emboldened heresy and the
heresiarchs of the Phanar and of Athens, and with the rest! [2]
In any case, the testimony of the
Holy Fathers concerning the value of Martyrdom that arises from persecutions by
heretics is absolutely clear! Let this too be a consolation (though with much
humility) for those who inwardly suffer from the present fall of the Churches
and who offer a commendable resistance, being fiercely warred against by
heresy.
Saint Athanasius the Great, who
like another Atlas bore the Church upon his shoulders when the Arian-minded
heretics had prevailed everywhere—both in royal palaces and in the Church, in
East and West—he who “became a pillar of Orthodoxy,” writes the following (in
the 4th century):
“Therefore, I
beseech you, having in your hands the Faith which was written down by the
Fathers at Nicaea, and defending it with great zeal and confidence in the Lord,
to become an example for all those who are in every place, showing that now
before us lies a struggle against heresy and for the truth, and that the
devices of the enemy are manifold. For it is not only the refusal to offer
incense [to idols] that brings forth Martyrs; but also not denying the Faith
makes glorious the martyrdom of conscience. And not only were those condemned
as alienated who worshipped before idols, but also those who betrayed the
truth. For Judas was not cast out from the apostolic rank because he offered
sacrifice [to idols], but because he became a traitor. And Hymenaeus and
Alexander did not fall away because they turned to idols, but because they made
shipwreck concerning the Faith. [3] On the other hand, the Patriarch Abraham
was not crowned because he was slain, but because he was faithful to God. And
the other Saints, of whom Paul speaks [4]—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,
David, Samuel, and those with them—did not come to perfection through the
shedding of their blood, but were justified through Faith and are admired even
to this day, because they were ready to endure even death for the sake of
godliness toward the Lord. And if I may add also what happened among us, you
know in what manner the blessed Alexander [of Alexandria] struggled unto death
against this heresy, and how many sorrows and how great labors he endured in
his old age, though elderly, and ‘he was added also to his fathers.’ [5] And
how many others have labored greatly, teaching against this impiety, and have
the boast in Christ of their Confession!” [6]
Similar things are written by
Saint Basil the Great, who also at that time played a significant coordinating
and unifying role among the persecuted, yet mutually divided, Orthodox—beyond
even the boundaries of his own diocese (“beyond the parish” …)—concerning the
superiority of the martyrdom to which the Orthodox are subjected by heretical
persecutors (the Arians in that case), in comparison to that which comes from
pagan persecutors. Let us consider his inspired thought in what he writes to Monks
who had suffered under the persecutions of the heretics:
“These things I
said to myself when I heard about the trial that came upon you from the enemies
of God, and these I deemed it good to communicate to you by letter; for in a
time that is considered peaceful, you have obtained for yourselves the
beatitude that belongs to those who are persecuted for the name of Christ. [7]
For one should not suppose that these circumstances do not come from enemies,
simply because those who devise the evils are cloaked with a noble and mild
name. For I judge the war that comes from those of the same race to be more
grievous; since it is easier to guard oneself against declared enemies, while
one is inevitably exposed to every harm that comes from those who are mingled
among us—such as you have suffered. For our fathers also endured persecutions,
but at the hands of idolaters. Their possessions were plundered, their homes
destroyed, and they themselves were driven into exile by those who openly
warred against us for the name of Christ. But the persecutors who have now
arisen, on the one hand do not hate us any less than those others did, yet on
the other hand they parade the name of Christ [as their identity] in order to
deceive the many, so that those who are persecuted may have no consolation from
their Confession—since the many and unsuspecting indeed admit that we are being
wronged, but do not credit our death for the truth as martyrdom. Therefore, I
am convinced that a greater reward awaits you from the Righteous Judge than
that which was granted to those who were martyred then, for they had both the
confessed approval of men and awaited the reward from God, whereas in our case,
for the same achievements, there are no honors from the people. Consequently,
it is fitting that the recompense laid up in the future for the labors endured
for piety will be manifold.”
“Therefore, we
beseech you not to be disheartened by the afflictions, but to be renewed in
love toward God and to increase day by day your diligence, [8] knowing that in
you must be preserved the remnant of piety which the Lord shall find upon the
earth when He comes. [9] And even if Bishops of the Churches have been cast
out, let this not shake you; and if traitors have sprouted from among the very
Clergy, let not even this weaken your confidence in God. For it is not names
that save us, but dispositions and true love for Him Who created us. Remember
that even in the conspiracy against our Lord, the plot was woven by chief
priests and scribes and elders, and from among the people there were but few
who genuinely accepted His word; and that it is not the multitude that is
saved, but the elect of God. Therefore, let the great crowd of the people never
daunt you—those who are tossed about like the sea by the winds. For even if
only one is to be saved, as Lot was in Sodom, he must remain sound in judgment,
having his hope firmly fixed upon Christ, for the Lord will not forsake His
saints. [10] Greet the whole brotherhood in Christ on my behalf; pray sincerely
for my wretched soul.” [11]
In another letter, addressed to
exiled Orthodox Bishops, Saint Basil the Great refers to the spiritual harm
caused by the heretical delusions of Apollinarius of Laodicea, who had
initially distinguished himself as an Orthodox in the struggles against Arianism,
but ended up in an opposing heresy, mutilating the human nature of the Lord in
order to exalt His divine nature. Once again, he emphasizes how much more
unbearable is the warfare that comes from former co-believers and fellow
combatants.
“Greatly did the
report of your zeal for the integrity of piety strengthen our desire to meet
you, as the steadfastness of your heart was not swayed either by the multitude
of writings or by the variety of sophistries; rather, you recognized those who
innovate against the Apostolic Dogmas, and you did not deign—through your
silence—to retain the harm they cause. And indeed, to all who are devoted to
the peace of the Lord, we have found great sorrow because of the various
innovations of Apollinarius of Laodicea, who grieved us all the more insofar as
he appeared at first to belong to us. For to suffer something at the hands of
an open enemy, though more painful, is still somewhat bearable to the one
afflicted, for it is written: ‘For if an enemy had reproached me, I could have
borne it.’ [12] But to suffer harm from one who is of the same mind and
familiar is altogether unbearable and without any consolation. For the one whom
we expected to have as a fellow defender of the truth, we now find in many
matters to be a hindrance to those being saved, by distracting their mind and
turning it aside from the uprightness of the dogmas.” [13]
May the Lord strengthen us all
through His Saints!
ENDNOTES
[1] Cf. Hebrews 11:26 (which has the completely opposite
meaning, praising the unwavering faith and the appropriation of “the reproach
of Christ”).
[2] In a future post, with the presentation of material from
the archive of Fr. Theodoros (Zisis), and specifically from the issues of the
periodical Grigoreite twenty-four years ago, it will be shown with
utmost clarity—by way of comparison—the deviation (that is, apostasy) of
today’s 4E from the theological line of the blessed Elder Fr. Theophilos.
[3] 1 Timothy 1:19
[4] Hebrews 11:32–40
[5] An expression frequently found in the Old Testament to
denote the repose (death) of a righteous man. Cf. Judges 2:10 & 1 Maccabees
2:69.
[6] Full excerpt: St. Athanasius the Great, Encyclical
Letter to the Bishops of Egypt and Libya 21, PG 25, 588A–C, EPE 10, 76.78.
I located this through the presentation of the Reverend Presbyter Fr. Dimos
Serkelidis at the Conference “Orthodoxy in Walling Off: Eight Years Later”
(28 June 2025), whom I thank.
[7] Matthew 5:11–12: “Blessed are ye when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in
heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
[8] Cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 & Ephesians 4:23
[9] Luke 18:8
[10] Psalm 36:28
[11] Full excerpt: St. Basil the Great, Letter (257) To
Monks Worn Down by the Arians, PG 32, 945A–948B, EPE 3, 54–58.
[12] Psalm 54:13
[13] St. Basil the Great, Letter (265) To Eulogios,
Alexandros, and Harpokration, Exiled Bishops of Egypt 2, PG 32, 985A.B, EPE
3, 72.
Greek source: https://katanixi.gr/to-martyrio-orthodoxon-apo-airetikoys-iso-i-kai-anotero-apo-ekeino-ton-archaion-diogmon/
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