Orthodox Reflections

We received this letter for publication from an older Greek gentleman who has profound questions about the direction Ecumenism is taking the Orthodox Church. We think it highlights four very important points. First, many hierarchs, theologians, and academics simply take Ecumenism for granted as an apparently good thing. No one ever seems to explain to ordinary Orthodox Christians, or even Roman Catholics for that matter, why this is so. The laity are simply left on the sidelines as if they do not matter. Second, there are major differences between the Orthodox Church and other “churches” that seem insurmountable. All these dialogs, prayer services, hierarchical visits, symposia, joint papers, etc. never seem to produce any concrete information as to how unity could even be possible, and if achieved, what a unified Church would even look like. Or how it would worship. Details seem to be sorely lacking. Third, given points 1 and 2, the Orthodox Faithful fear that all the compromises needed to achieve unity will be on the Orthodox side. We are afraid we will end up with a Church and a Faith that we don’t recognize, in order to achieve a unity we don’t want for reasons we don’t understand. Finally, since so much criticism of ecumenical activity is directed at Patriarch Bartholomew, there is a tendency among some Greeks to view this issue in ethnic terms. Nothing could be further from the truth, as some of the bitterest foes of Ecumenism are faithful Greeks, such as this gentleman. 

–OR Staff

Αυτού Θειοτάτη Παναγιότης, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, Νέας Ρώμης και Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης, Παναγιωτατε, Χαίρετε εν Κυρίο.

My name in Greek is Παναγιώτης Φαρμακιδης (Panayiotis Farmakidis). I was born in Constantinople in 1942. When I was a kid, my grandmother (God rest her), although illiterate (αγγράμματη), taught me the scriptures, and the saints. She taught me a genuine(γνήσια) Orthodoxy. Today I am 78 years old and still remember the times my grandmother was teaching me the scriptures. The images of those encounters with my grandmother are as vivid as if they were taking place at this very moment.

Unfortunately, and with sadness, I have to say that today Orthodoxy is drifting away from those genuine (γνήσια) teachings. Surely the first reason is the continuous influence from the West. However, we have also internal elements within Orthodoxy that cause our faith to drift, and I surely refer to the promulgation of Ecumenism by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. There are many Orthodox Church Fathers, Bishops, Archbishops, Orthodox Theologians, many respected Orthodox writers (including St. Justin Popovic) that have written and have said that Ecumenism is a Pan Heresy.

In his interview with the Italian Newspaper Avvenire, the Patriarch says that Ecumenism is not a heresy. Furthermore, he continues saying, “The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church held in Crete in 2016 condemned all those who, under the pretext of maintaining or presuming to defend the true orthodoxy, break the unity of the Church.” His Holiness at a speech at Phanar in 2015 said that opposition to Ecumenism is diabolical.

I have difficulty understanding the above statements. First of all, His All-Holiness should come forward and explain why Ecumenism is not a heresy. Secondly, from what we all know, Ecumenical Councils were convened to condemn heresies. Now it turns out that the heresy condemns those that oppose it.  Besides, there are many church fathers that argue the validity of the 2016 council. Was it even legitimate?

As for those opposing Ecumenism being diabolical, how can they be? God Forbid! Ecumenism is not a dogma. It has nothing to do with the scriptures. It has nothing to do with Christianity. There isn’t even a clear definition as to what Ecumenism is. On the contrary, I would say that Ecumenism itself is diabolical. It has caused a deep division in the Orthodox church between those that are in favor of Ecumenism and those that are against it.

I am asking this simple question to myself, is Orthodoxy missing anything that we will find with the heterodox? Why do we have to be members of the World Council of Churches? This is a heretical organization. We will not see anything good coming from them. Surely, unity among Christians is everyone’s wish. I surely support unity with the heterodox, but how will it be accomplished? It is not clear.

I have searched and searched for answers and did not find any. Therefore, I took the liberty to write a letter to Cardinal Koch, to ask the question. Cardinal Koch is one of His All-Holiness’ close collaborators, and he is the one that works most feverishly to submit Orthodoxy to the Papacy. The letter is as follows below.

Most Reverend Eminence, Cardinal Kurt Koch Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Via della Concillazione 5-00193 Roma, Italia

His Eminence, Cardinal Kurt Koch Date: 15/04/2021

Much is being said lately, about Pope Francis’s initiative to promote the unity of Christianity, and to celebrate Easter on a common Easter date in the year 2025. Surely, everyone’s wish is for this to happen, but for this to materialize, what is on the table? And this is the reason for my letter to his Eminence, to ask kindly and respectfully, what are the prerequisites that the Orthodox have to accept and/or give in? What are the prerequisites for the Catholics to accept and/or give in for the unification to be realized? Most Respectfully,

Cardinal Koch, never answered my letter. I was not hoping for an answer either. All these interfaith dialogues are done in secret and behind doors. There is no transparency. Not one of the Ecumenist hierarchs talks openly on the matter. The Orthodox faithful have no idea of what is happening, or what will happen to their Orthodox Faith. The Catholics have a multitude of heresies. They will not withdraw any of those heresies. How can we, the Orthodox, be united with them and still be divided on the issues that we all know?

Despite the hugs, the kisses and the smiles of love of our church leaders, the Catholics still call us heretics. They still call us the lost ship. They still say that we broke off from the Mother Church, and much more. They still say we have to submit to the Pope to be saved. One can read more of these types of comments on the Internet. His All-Holiness knows very well that the Orthodox church of St. Spyridon, in Puerto Rico, formerly under your jurisdiction, has been taken over by the Catholics. It’s now a Greek Catholic church under Latin Jurisdiction and in union with the Vatican.

How can anyone work together with Catholics when they still do what they were doing a thousand years ago? Little by little, we lose ground to the Pope. I came across a video on YouTube with the title Orthodox Christians reject false council of Kolymbary & Global Religion of the Antichrist. In this video it is well explained how this Ecumenist Council of Crete, watered down, altered, corrupted the church canons, altered the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils and much more – all to accommodate the heretics.

Whether the above is correct or not, his All-Holiness alone knows. However, it is without doubt that once we mingle with heretics, at some point our Orthodoxy will become corrupted. Whether we want it or not, heretical practices will slip into Orthodoxy. No heretics, including Protestants, have said that they will revoke any of their heretical dogmas and practices to join with the Orthodox Church. It is apparently easier for us, the Orthodox, to manipulate our church canons to accommodate the heretics

If his All-Holiness baptizes Pope Francis into Orthodoxy, the heavens will rejoice. His All-Holiness should come forward and explain to the Orthodox world:

• How will this unity of Orthodoxy with the heretics be worked out?
• What is the plan?
• How will services take place? Would his All-Holiness recite the Nicene Creed with the inclusion of the Filioque if the Pope says so?
• It is being said also that his All-Holiness will accept the Primacy of the Pope. This is another paradox of Catholicism. Christianity is a religion of humility. Did our Lord Jesus Christ at any time mention about anyone’s primacy? Why must we have an Absolute Superior Emperor in the world living in palaces made of gold and marble, more powerful that Julius Cesar? It makes no sense.

Let’s have a look at Dalai Lama. How humble he is! Maybe we should learn something from the idolaters.

“We completely agree” with Pope Francis’ invitation to “abandon indifference or even the cynicism that governs our ecological, political, economic and social life in general, including our self-centered form of unity, and to dream of our world as a united human family” said your All-Holiness on a visit to Rome concerning Pope Francis’ Encyclical Fratelli tutti. On the Vatican web pages one can see photos and videos of how the Pope moves slowly into Orthodox territories. Meanwhile, His All-Holiness has never gone to a Catholic territory to explain what Orthodoxy is about. Particularly in Latin America, they have never heard the word “Orthodox.” His All-Holiness always praises the work of Pope Francis. While there is nothing wrong with that, I have never heard Pope Francis praising his All-Holiness’ work. The Pope is always projected to be above his All-Holiness. Is that something Pope Francis is willing to abandon?

With my most sincere respects to his All-Holiness.

Panayiotis