Obedience or simply submission?

November 5, 2025

[Contemplation by a member of Official Orthodoxy]

 

 

“Better to be with the Church even if it errs, than to be right and outside the Church”!

We heard it from priestly lips. Again and again. A discourse about blind and unreasoning obedience. It sounds very easy and very convenient: without examination of conscience and without any spiritual effort, I simply obey the Church in whatever it says and decides synodally… or even by diocese and province. This, of course, is the camouflage word. The word behind which lies hidden the entire egotistical and self-satisfied intention of one who does whatever he wants, however he wants, without being accountable to anyone.

Perfect: the path to salvation is now wide open. Who was it that said, “Narrow is the gate and difficult the way which leads to life” (Matt. 7:14)? He must have been mistaken, because His modern representatives teach us that everything is easy, as long as one obeys. That is, to obey in getting vaccinated, in shutting down churches and locking doors, in altering ecclesiastical canons at will or violating them. To obey in the corruption of the mindset and the de-sacralization of every concept and mystery or tradition of the Church. To obey the demands of the times and the whims, wishes, and passions of the rulers—since the Church co-signs and approves them “synodally.”

Something is not right. This matter of obedience to the Church has greatly troubled me as well, just as it has many others.

I believe the answer lies in the understanding and proper interpretation of the term Church. By this term is described the totality of Christians throughout the world, which provides priesthood and apostolic ministry, shares a common dogma, and proclaims its faith in its Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, in an Orthodox manner. The Church is the Body of our Lord. We are all members of it—whether weak, healthy, in the process of healing, or near death—we are members when we are baptized and consciously choose to be members in freedom. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13–15). What makes us members of the Church is the awareness and understanding that we are members of Christ; therefore, in this life each of us struggles according to his strength, so that he may become of one body with Christ and ultimately a healthy member. That is to say, a saint.

Now, those who govern the Church—if we suppose that they are a specialized member of this Body with a specific mission—must know that they are NOT the head of this Body. And neither, of course, do they replace Christ (as if He were somewhere far away).

They too are members—some weak, some healthy, others dead, already lifeless. “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3). The only distinction they have from any other member is the priesthood, which is a particular mission within His Body. But even greater than the priesthood is the continual union and communication with the Holy Spirit, because whoever is cut off from the Holy Spirit is cut off from the Vine and becomes a cancerous member that is cut off: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10).

So then, from where does this constant and permanent refrain originate—this command for unquestioning obedience? Are we to obey even the dry and severed members? Unfortunately for us (not for the true Church), the synod is composed of members of a clique that agrees beforehand to submit to the decision of one man as if he were infallible like the Pope.

The decision of that one directs and determines even the episcopal ordinations, so we have now reached the point where all the hierarchs comprising the synod are elected by the first according to his desires (and naturally, his expectations from them). Whoever does not obey along the way or does something of his own—even if it is apostolic and ecclesiastical—is persecuted by all means and in every way (see the case of Tychikos, former Bishop of Paphos). Therefore, we are being told to obey a synod with prearranged decisions and directions, since everything depends on one man and not on a synod in the Holy Spirit.

Here is the Holy Spirit before us once again: “The One present everywhere and filling all things.”

The Apostles and the Synods of our Fathers were Spirit-bearing figures, and as such they established the dogmas and the course of the Church throughout the ages, while also resisting heresies and deviations with steadfastness. The present-day successors of the Apostles—who most certainly are not of the same mind and faith as they—how are they justified in demanding absolute obedience and conformity?

Isn’t it very convenient for them that everyone obeys without any resistance?

I believe things are now clear. Our hierarchs—and often, even at the parish level, our priests—find obedience convenient, as it allows them to conceal their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their falls. Behind so-called obedience they hide their inability to govern, but above all, their lack of love, fatherliness, forgiveness, absence of resentment, and compassion—not only toward their priests, but toward any person found in need, who has nothing to offer in return in the form of money, property, or service to the interests of the metropolis.

All the rest, then, through the command of obedience, are weakened and pushed to the margins of love, care, and mercy—which the official Church is supposed to represent. Instead of our administrative Church being an honorable and sanctified member, it has degenerated into a cancerous and decayed one, which not only does not seek healing, but demands that all silently accept the rot and stench as something given. Not only does it refuse to undergo surgery, but it does not even allow the diagnosis of the illness by anyone, as though it holds absolute authority and the sole truth. As if Christ were not the Truth and the Life, but rather those who govern the Church are infallible—givers of life and sinless.

Infallible. It is precisely within this environment and condition that they demand absolute obedience to the “Church.” And of course, it is as if they are saying, obey me—that is what they truly mean deep down; they simply do not say it outright due to a pretense of humility. The fact that the Church is faltering, surrendered to the passions and to greed, to the lust for power and the self-justification of its rulers, unfortunately seems to concern no one.

The people now turn away and avoid attending church and associating with the clergy and those so-called “of the Church.” They have become disillusioned and, to a great extent, have withdrawn—not so much from the true God, but from His supposed people and representatives. For all they hear about is obedience, without understanding, and without seeing behind the actions and deeds of those in charge anything of Christ Himself. Large churches are empty, events and banquets are attended by the same few people who rotate among themselves and enjoy the wealth and grandeur reserved for the few and the “elect” who obey. Come then, obey, and you shall enjoy in this life all the power and magnificence of those who hold authority within the Church—and within the State as well, since Church and State now walk hand in hand on the difficult and painful issues of our lives (see: homosexuality, coronavirus, European funds and subsidies, etc.).

I am sorrowful for the above, which is a painful and bitter experience and realization. This is not the Christ we loved. This is not the Christ we fell in love with. Christ does not speak of obedience (great is the mystery of obedience within monasticism—but obedience in the world is something entirely different, as Archimandrite Nikodimos, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Philotheou on Mount Athos, said in a talk he gave in Athens), but He awaits the last just as the first (the Parable of the Talents and the Paschal Homily of Saint John Chrysostom).

He goes out to gather the lost sheep—the disobedient one (Luke 15:3–6). He takes upon His shoulders the sin of us all, without distinguishing anyone, embracing the sinner and the penitent with absolute love and forgiveness. No one is excluded or different; no one is exempt. Acquaintance or long-standing obedience to the bishop or priest does not count as a reward of loyalty or as a guarantee of a sound spiritual life.

I wish and I pray that those who govern us may ascend their Cross, embrace it with love, and thereby come to understand—being themselves crucified—that this is the only way and path to understanding their fellow man, his pain, his anxiety, his unjust journey. Only upon the cross can any person who holds authority ultimately be united with Christ and find themselves with Him.

Not in gilded parlors, nor clothed in purple and fine linen (Luke 16:19: “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day”), acting without effort and yet aimlessly, using as his shield the declared obedience of his subordinates, with no one holding him accountable or judging his actions.

I believe that the time of the great hierarchs of our Church’s past will return, through the pain and afflictions that will come. Sooner or later, when God allows it, those who govern will be called to take a stand of confession of faith, at the cost of personal persecution and torment. Without hiding behind the command of obedience, without being able to deceive everyone through alignment with worldly power and its forces, and certainly without monetary self-sufficiency being able to redeem them.

The hour is coming, and now is, when we will all be called to reveal the deepest things of our heart and of our faith. Amen!

 

Greek source: https://apotixisi.blogspot.com/2025/11/blog-post_5.html