Orthodox Reflections

St. Symeon of Thessaloniki provided an interesting response to a question from Metropolitan Gabriel of Pentapolis concerning whether or not it is permitted for a priest to conduct a service without an epitrachilion (stole), given that the priest already has the grace of the Holy Spirit through tonsuring.

The original excerpt below is from Patrologia Graeca PG155:868C-868D, but we will also reference a more modern publication from a professor at the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki, Ioannis Fountoulis, who quoted St. Symeon’s text when responding to a related question.

The following two comments from St. Symeon stand out, and have considerable relevant significance to the recent controversy that has been introduced with “multiple spoons”.

Whereas a priest has the grace of the Holy Spirit, but just as he is comprised of body and spirit, the mysteries also contain a “physical” element. (See Ioannis Fountoulis’ commentary «Απαντησεις εις Λειτουργικας Αποριας», Αποστολικη Διακονια Της Εκκλησιας Της Ελλαδος Vol. 1, question 8).

• If there is an emergency, and a service must be conducted, but there is no epitrachilion, St. Symeon advises to find something, a cloth, a rope, a belt, have the priest bless it, and use it as an epitrachilion. However, this sanctified material must never be considered a “plain object” again, and must be kept safe from desecration forever.  (ref: Fountoulis & St. Symeon’s direct quote below)
• This is the Orthodox opinion from a very significant saint of our Church, as existed 1420 A.D. about how objects used in liturgical practice are considered sanctified, and holy, and are not to be considered “plain objects”.

Unfortunately, this means the “new” opinions that have circulated from individuals with theology degrees (clergy included), and which dare to suggest that a sanctified material object such a Lavida (spoon) is “plain”, or “simply metal”, find themselves in direct contradiction with St. Symeon of Thessaloniki.

As a reminder, we will list some of these unfortunate controversial “modern opinion” pieces, so people can formulate their own comparisons between “modern opinions” and the opinions of renowned saints and Church Fathers from Byzantium and beyond…

Calivas:

• “The communion spoon is an imperfect material object. It does not share in the incorruptibility of the risen and deified Body of Christ which is really present to us through the eucharistic elements. On its own, the spoon is simply a spoon, a utensil.” – Fr. Calivas
• “Orthodox sacramental theology, distinguishes between what is mystical and what is physical. The divine realities in each sacrament are distinct from the material elements by which they are mediated.” – Fr. Calivas

 Comments from GOARCH guidelines May 24^th,2020:

13a. The parish shall use multiple metal spoons that will be single use during the distribution of Holy Communion.

13b. The parishioner will approach the chalice and be urged to tilt their head back and open their mouth wide so that the communion may be dropped into their mouth.

13c.  The Priest will use a new spoon to offer communion and then place the spoon in a separate receptacle before the next parishioner.

13d. “In lieu of a Common Cloth, the parish will have disposable napkins available to the faithful, and upon approaching the chalice, the parishioner would take a napkin, hold it under their own chin, wipe or dab their mouth, and then dispose of the napkin in a container on the solea, the contents of which will be burned the same day.

13e.  Following each appointment, the spoons will be submerged in boiling water to cleanse them.

Compare the above statements to those of St. Symeon of Thessaloniki:

“A man found worthy receives Priesthood, and through him who is tonsured as an instrument the holy (mysteries) are conducted. Yet because a man is made of body and soul, the mysteries also must be conducted in duplicate, so the priest needs both the temple and the altar….”

“…Thus there is a need for holy vestments, and a priest cannot act without a peritrachilion, because the holy vestments have divine grace as well”

“…lastly for him not to conduct any service without a pertrachilion, and if there is a need to conduct a service, or a prayer, or baptism, or anything else holy, if a peritrachilion cannot be found, and so that the work is not abandoned, the priest might bless a belt, a portion of rope or cloth, and wear it as an epitrachilion, and conduct the service.  And after (the service), do not treat it (the substitute element) as a COMMON OBJECT, but put it to suitable holy use, or safeguard it in the same location (sanctuary), so it may not be considered “common”.”

-Symeon of Thessaloniki

What do you think St. Symeon would say about the current “innovations” that appear to suggest a lower value of sanctification for material elements that are essential to liturgical practice than what St. Symeon attributes?  Would he agree with Fr. Calivas’ opinion that the lavida is “simply a utensil”?  Would he agree with the US and Canadian Archdioceses’ introduction of and underlying reasons for “multiple spoons”?  Would he agree with any of this?

Two different eras, two different mindsets stemming from hierarchs and scholars of Theology.  Yet, one mindset belongs to a very big defender of Dogma and an established saint of the Church…  The new mindset is a product of “fear” of contamination, or as some might describe it, a scriptural manifestation of a “faithless generation”.  St. Symeon lived in an era when average life expectancy was maybe 45-50 years old.  The familiar generation of Orthodox saints never feared mortality, and never looked at liturgical practice via a prism of “entitlement to live to the age of 100”….They would pray for health and for the sick, yes, but their primary concern was eternal salvation, and not actively seeking an extension of sinful years on this planet….This is the root of all present-day confusion.  When there is lack of alignment with the Church Fathers.  As they say in the corporate world, an inch of misalignment at the top creates a mile of misalignment and confusion at the bottom.

Ιωαννης Μ (Αναγνωστης), Greek Archdiocese

Orthodoxy in Canada is in crisis! Sign the petition here to preserve Orthodoxy by upholding the HOLY TRADITION (PARADOSIS) of the SINGLE COMMUNION SPOON. Visit our petition page for more information.