Letter of Protopresbyter George Metallinos to the Zealot Athonite Fr. Theodoretos (Mavros)

 

Cologne, November 16, 1973 (N.S.)

My beloved brother in the Lord, Fr. Theodoretos,

May the Lord strengthen you in your struggles and always reveal you as a Confessor of His Truth.

I received your letter today and I thank you for your brotherly words and your prayers. I write you only a few lines, to provide you with the assurance that both the presbytera and I listen with great emotion to the things concerning your struggle — of those zealous monks — which bring to mind glorious days of the Church and the struggles of her holy monks, who, being strangers to every compromise and servility, fought on the frontlines for the One Truth, our Holy Orthodox Faith. Sacred emotion overtook us upon reading your letter, seeing our fellow student and longtime friend Ioannis rise to a patristic height and be transformed into a champion of Orthodoxy, which is indeed being assailed from every side, and especially by her own bishops. Remain there, our beloved and revered Father and brother. Remain there, struggling on high. We are at your side. Already we are in the same camp, for it is not the battlefield, but the struggle that places someone in a particular camp. And here, fighting, we find ourselves in the same camp as you. Believe me, brother! We shall not remain here much longer; they will not allow us to. But we shall remain, as long as we are able. The adversary must suffer damage here as well. And war is needed in his own camp. Seeing you and those heroic brothers of his not bow the knee to your insolent persecutors, we cry out with tears: Yes, “the soldiers fitting for God will never be lacking in the Church...” Never, never. Neither the Studites, nor the Damaskinoi, nor the Palamites, nor the Nikodemoses ever vanished. They live, because Christ lives. They live in your persons, honorable fighters of the right faith!

I have nothing else, beloved brother and father, to offer to your struggle except my support. You are struggling. It is not a vain matter. Here, God deemed me worthy to witness the betrayal being committed against Orthodoxy. Bishops and clergy with complete unbelief, with scandalous lives, trample everything underfoot like swine trampling pearls. And they seek to compel you to retreat! May it never be, O Lord! The seat of your persecutors reeks with the suffocating stench of the filth of unbelief, indifference, and immorality. You understand what I mean. Other opponents of yours ally themselves with the satanic powers of the world and see them as powers of Christ, blessing abominable crimes. No, do not retreat. I have written to “Typos” and the others, and I have told them my opinion. Nothing has changed in the Phanar. It is a diversionary tactic, and blessed is he who will not be led astray... Remain steadfast. May the Lord bless you, the worthy fighters of His Faith. The presbytera, through me, sends her respects. My lowliness prays to the Lord to strengthen you. May Jesus Christ bless and empower you.

Filled with emotion, because I regard the appearance of the Exarchate as the beginning of significant struggles which will crown your faith, but will also lead many to a terrible and eternal fall, I embrace you and kiss your hands with tears, because I rejoice and feel proud that my old friend and now brother in the Lord is found at the front line of the Orthodox fighters. Pray, my brother and my father, that my lowliness may also, according to my strength, be an imitator of your struggle.

With much love in the Lord,

† Presbyter George Metallinos

P.S. Here the Protestants, who essentially rule together with the Papists and direct the Phanar, have become alarmed because there are zealots on the Holy Mountain. Professor Schneemelcher of Bonn (a Protestant), for example, called me the day before yesterday after the lecture into his office, and for an hour we discussed matters concerning the Mountain. Supposedly because he was going to give a lecture. What he really wanted, however, was to find out how steadfast those young men are. In fact, he asked me whether you are “Zoe-types,” influenced by the pietistic mentality of the ZOE movement. I tried, however, to give him a correct image of you (and he said that he expected that from me, because the others here… may God forgive them), and to assure him that the Mountain will not fall, nor the Orthodoxy of the zealous monks… He was, of course, not enthused… Therefore, do not lower the banner. I beg you on my knees. Do not give joy to the Devil. Do not let heresy triumph. Orthodoxy, and we her lowly and unworthy soldiers in the world, beseech you to continue fighting with all your strength. We pray that the Lord may grant you the necessary patience and strength. Remember me and my family in your prayers, brother.

 

Greek source: https://krufo-sxoleio.blogspot.com/2017/03/blog-post_17.html