Synodal Encyclical of the Hierarchy
of the Church of Greece
To All the People of Greece
Beloved children in the Lord,
1. Forty years ago, the Hierarchy
of our Church addressed “to the holy clergy and the pious people of Greece” a
message of concern and paternal admonition on an issue that is fundamental for
the Greek family and for our country: the issue of declining rates of
childbirth and childrearing.
2. That declaration of the
Hierarchy, dating to the year 1937, confronted all of us with our
responsibilities in the face of this great crisis in our country, which affects
not only the family, but also our fatherland and the nation on account of the
decline in population of our people.
3. This crisis is primarily a
moral and social crisis. It is not unrelated to the weakening that we observe
in living the Christian faith, which was lived for centuries and which made our
nation great. Yet lately, the hope in God the mighty, the living (Ps
41:3) has disappeared from many, and this diminution of the hope that is in
us (1 Pt 3:15) has brought about the denial of Christian moral principles
and apostasy from our Christian faith.
4. A fruit of this apostasy
includes the most acute problem of today: the avoidance of childbearing or the
bearing of only a few children.
5. It is God’s will and command,
however, for us to increase and multiply and fill the earth (Gen 1:28).
And it was to return and conform ourselves to this divine will that the voice
of the Church, through its Hierarchy, called the people at that time. There is
an imperative need to repeat this recommendation again today and to renew
through this present proclamation what our Mother, the Church, proclaimed to
her children forty years ago.
6. Over the intervening years,
not only has the alarming state of affairs not stopped, on the contrary, it has
gotten worse. The avoidance of childbearing and the bearing of only a few
children has achieved unbelievable proportions. And what can we say about the
horrific abortions, the number of which reaches hundreds of thousands every
year? This whole campaign against pregnancies has created an enormous moral
quandary as well as an intense demographic and national problem.
7. Therefore, as responsible
pastors of the Church, we address the following:
8. To the Government of the
country and the national parliamentary representation: we call on you to avoid
by all means the legalization of abortions, because these are crimes against a
developing life and against the young shoots of the human race still in the
womb. We call on you to not neglect the necessary initiatives and provisions
for encouraging an increase in childbearing and providing relief for those who
bear the burdens of pregnancy and the upbringing and rearing of children.
9. We appeal to all married men,
to remind them of their obligations, that lawful marriage and the generation
of children therefrom might faithfully follow the will of the Creator for
the help and succession of the human race. And we exhort each and every one
of you to take up his cross (Mt 16:24).
10. This obligation is certainly
a ‘cross.’ But the Christian is called by Christ the Savior to take up and bear
his cross, just as the Lord Himself did, and not to renounce his fundamental
duties.
11. All those who look to Jesus,
the author and finisher of the faith, who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the Cross (Hebr 12:2), should not hesitate to face the burdens of
family life and especially the birth of children, who circle round about his
table (Ps 127:3). It is a great blessing and gift of God to pray that
their house be filled (Lk 14:23).
12. We appeal also to women, to
pious Greek Orthodox Christian women, and encourage them in a paternal spirit
to sacrifice worldly lusts (Titus 2:12) for the sake of the family and
childrearing; and to avoid all contraceptive methods and techniques whatsoever.
13. These have the duty of
childbearing, that they may do it with joy and not grieve (Hebr 13:17),
in order that they also might have a good conscience (Hebr 13:18)—one
that is at peace and uncondemned—that God might bestow His rich blessing upon
the family and the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience may be
averted (Eph. 5, 6).
14. We furthermore address a warm
appeal to the medical world, above all to specialists: never participate in
abortions, lest you become men of blood (Ps 5:7). Fearing God, let the
children in the womb be born (see Ex 1:17). And in accordance with your oath,
avoid “abortifacient drugs.” Contribute, rather, through your prestige and
medical influence, in encouraging pregnant women to give birth. Make only a
positive contribution and provide only beneficial services to them and to
society.
15. We call, in turn, upon the
most venerable confessor priests who are tasked with the ministry of spiritual
fatherhood, and we command synodically that all say the same thing (1
Cor 1:10) about this most serious issue, in accordance with the position
outlined by the Hierarchy (in the previous Encyclical of 1937). Do not deviate
from this position. You have a duty to inspire this mindset—the only truly
Orthodox mindset—in all who go to confession, cultivating them in faith and
hope towards God, who will not suffer them to be tempted above what 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).
16. Finally, we call upon all men
and women to crusade for an increase in the number of children according to
the measure of God’s gift towards families (Eph 4:7). And we beseech you (as
though God did beseech you by us) (2 Cor 5:20) that they hear this message
with much anguish of heart (2 Cor 2:4). Instead of agonizing and being
anxious for the future of our children and the nation, it is preferable for
everyone to take up the good fight for the emergence of a greater number of
children, for the benefit of our whole society.
17. The Holy Synod of the
Hierarchy is not unaware that there are also difficult circumstances and
problematic, and sometimes dangerous, situations in the matter of childbearing
and childrearing. Either for financial reasons or because of living conditions,
etc.—even for reasons of health—it is not a simple matter, and often acute
problems arise.
18. In order to deal with these
difficulties, many are seeking a way out. Yet the only acceptable way out for a
Christian, through conjugal abstinence, is usually seen as a strait gate and a
narrow way (Mt 7:14) and a heavy and unbearable burden. It is, for the majority
of people, something unattainable, and few are those who find it (that
is, the way). For this reason, some further dispensation and
‘ecclesiastical economy’ and condescension is being sought for and deemed
desirable.
19. In spite of this, the
delicate and sensitive conscience of Christians, both men and women, does not
rest in what can be stretched and what is temporary. It remains restless
despite any concessions and ‘economy.’ It sees it as a measure that is not
valid before God and that is insecure, and this is unprofitable for them
(Heb. 13:17), on account of the unimpeded participation and communion in divine
grace and the holy Mysteries.
20. For this reason, the Holy
Synod of the Hierarchy cannot take up a decision that is contrary to the sacred
Canons regarding the exercise of ‘ecclesiastical economy’ as many are
requesting for particular special cases. In such cases, if there is a real and
insurmountable reason (first and foremost illness), the competent spiritual
fathers will provide the appropriate dispensation by applying the provisions of
the sacred Canons.
21. In all these matters, we
express our warm sympathy to all the faithful and all who are earnestly
fighting the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12) within the framework of
the Christian family.
22. Let them be assured that for
them is reserved the happiness to say with righteous exultation: Here I am
and the children which God gave me (Hebr 2:13). For women, especially, the
work of motherhood is a pillar of salvation, as the divine Apostle said: the
woman shall be saved through childbearing, if they (the spouses) continue
in faith and love and sanctification with self-control (1 Tim 2:15).
Conversely, the children who are sacrificed and slaughtered in abortions will
demand their blood from their shameless and unscrupulous parents. And this will
be their condemnation.
23. Finally, blessing those
families that are adorned with many beautiful children, we assure them that
they will always have our practical support.
May the Lord bless our pious
nation and save it to the uttermost (Hebr 7:25).
With fervent prayers,
The Hierarchy of the Church of
Greece
Greek
source: Εκκλησία 22–23 (1978): pp. 563–564.
English
source:
Contraception
and the Orthodox Church, by Tikhon Alexander Pino, Ph.D., Patristic Nectar Publications, 2025,
pp. 133-141.
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