Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
To recap, our Q&A Tour regarding the infamous multiple communion spoons began in Toronto on July 19th 2020 at the doors of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. During this peaceful vigil, eight people, including his Eminence, Archbishop Sotirios, MPP Christina Mitas and members of the Greek Orthodox laity, met inside to achieve a better understanding as to how and why the multiple communion spoons were imposed in Ontario by the Archdiocese.
During this meeting, his Eminence admitted that his decision to proceed with the multiple communion spoons followed a telephone call with Public Health officials and/or government officials, but that he did not have any written communication of any kind from any level of government or public health office regarding our Communion practices. He even invited the people present at this meeting, to produce such a letter, something which, as a Hierarch of the Church, many would argue was his responsibility prior to imposing such a drastic change to our Communion practice. It can also be argued that a venture to produce such a letter would lead to (what his Eminence already knew) a ‘wild goose chase’ since such a letter would be in direct violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and therefore could not, and did not, exist.
Afterwards, MPP Mitas addressed the crowd and confirmed what many already knew, that there was no Ontario Provinical Law that interfered with Holy Communion practices. However, under the Emergency Act, authority was given to each individual jurisdiction and local public health unit of Ontario to act accordingly. Therefore, MPP Mitas also promised to request an FOI (Freedom of Information) from City of Toronto’s Mayor John Tory that would clarify the City’s legal position and power regarding Communion practices in Toronto.
In actual fact, all Greek Orthodox churches in Ontario had resumed the practice of Holy Communion with the single communion spoon for three Sundays in a row in June while the Emergency Act was still in effect and despite a City of Toronto recommendation that communion services should be fully suspended in all churches. Our communion practice came to an end after someone (we still don’t know who) complained about it to Toronto Public Health. The complaint was followed by a visit to Toronto’s St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church by a public health inspector, at least one phone call between his Eminence Sotirios with a public health and/or government official, no Holy Communion on July 5th, multiple spoons on July 12th and phase I of the Q&A Tour at the doors of the Archdiocese on July 19th, 2020.
Since that time, frustrated Orthodox laity have been trying to get the promised FOI from the City of Toronto with no success. This is not surprising for the following reasons:
First, any written legislation (which is very different from written advice, recommendation or guidance) that interferes with any group’s religious beliefs or practices would be opposed to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This would be cause for litigation at a Supreme Court level and no level of government would want to be involved in such a thing or even appear to violate the religious freedoms of any group, especially in Ontario which is the most ethnically diverse province in Canada. Therefore, the Provincial government washed its hands clean of any such potential problems by giving the local jurisdictions special authorities under the Emergency Act.
Second, the City of Toronto itself, is by far the most ethnically diverse city in all of Canada, and would never want to be viewed as racist or biased against any group’s religious practices. This would be a very bad political move at any government level. Therefore, no local jurisdiction would legislate any changes to anyone’s worship practices. In other words, the local jurisdictions also washed their hands clean of any such potential problems by exerting their authority under the Emergency Act only so far as providing advice, recommendations or guidance, but no form of legislation of anyone’s worship practices was generated or can be enforced as such.
In this manner, any complaints regarding the Province’s Emergency Act are dealt with as follows: If the complaint goes to the Province, the Province redirects the complainant to their local jurisdiction to which special authority was given. If the complaint goes to the local jurisdiction, that office points to the authority given to them by the Provincial Emergency Act. From a liability perspective, it’s a no fault system, but the bottom line is that there is no legislation that requires the use of multiple communion spoons. There is, however, an implicit threat, and this is the premise under which his Eminence Sotirios continues to justify his broad multiple communion spoon imposition.
So, what transpired with our requests to get an FOI? Here is the first email chain which has protected the identity of the parishioner who started it:
Sent: August 10, 2020 4:17 PM
To: XXX XXX
Subject: Re: Greek Orthodox Community – Holy Communion
Sent: August 10, 2020 3:56 PM
To: Debbie Gedz
Cc: Councillor Thompson
Subject: Fw: Greek Orthodox Community – Holy Communion
Dear Ms. Gedz,
I have emailed Councilor Thompson twice since July 30, 2020 and have not received an acknowledgment let alone an answer. I do not want to say that this is something Councilor Thompson should be embarrassed about because I do not know what reasons may exist for his lack of promptness. I must admit that I have not involved myself much in politics in the past and this is in fact the first time I have reached out to my City Councillor. I do not understand the rules and procedures and I am not even sure that Mr. Thompson owes me a reply.However, having read Councilor Thompson’s profile, I cannot imagine anyone more qualified to advise me on the situation that is causing so much strife in my own small community. If a recipient of the Bob Marley Lifetime Achievement Award cannot help…
I hope Ms. Gedz that it is possible for you to shed some light on the situation. I have a zoom meeting with MPP Christina Mitas this Wednesday and I would like to at least tell her that I received an acknowledgment from your office.
Sent: August 3, 2020 2:58 PM
To: councillor_thompson@toronto.ca <councillor_thompson@toronto.ca>
Subject: Re: Greek Orthodox Community – Holy Communion
—————————————————————————-
In summary, this first attempt was derailed with the excuse that Councillor Thompson’s office was experiencing a staff shortage and therefore could not provide an FOI which according to my understanding, is the right of any Canadian Citizen to obtain. This office was too busy to address someone’s rights which implies that they did not wish to deal with this matter at all.
Here is another email chain which has also protected the identity of the parishioner. This one got a little further:
Date: Monday, August 17, 2020 at 11:14 AM
To: XXXX XXXX
Cc: Councillor Crawford <councillor_crawford@toronto.ca>
Subject: RE: HIGH PRIORITY – Holy Communion in the Churches of Toronto
Unfortunately I would not be able to comment further as what you are asking would be determined at a case by case basis. If you would like further information on this, I would refer you to the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 hotline at 416-338-7600. Make sure to press option 8 and then option 1.
Thanks again for emailing our office.
Regards,
William Burtch
Sr. Administrator & Government Relations Research
Sent: August 17, 2020 11:02 AM
To: William Burtch <William.Burtch@toronto.ca>
Subject: Re: HIGH PRIORITY – Holy Communion in the Churches of Toronto
Dear Mr. Burtch:
Thank you for the clarification.
In the event, therefore, that someone contracted Covid-19 at a church, or if a parishioner contacted Public Health expressing concerns about a church’s communion practices, what would be the sequence of events/measures that Public Health would then enforce at that church?
If you could please clearly outline these step by step, that would be very helpful, as there is still some prevailing confusion regarding this issue.
I greatly appreciate your time in this very important matter,
Date: Monday, August 17, 2020 at 10:53 AM
To: XXXX XXXX
Cc: Councillor Crawford <councillor_crawford@toronto.ca>
Subject: RE: HIGH PRIORITY – Holy Communion in the Churches of Toronto
I should have been more clear in my email to you. Though these are not laws as we traditionally define them, they are recommendations that are enforceable by Public Health. If someone would contract COVID-19 at your church due to the practice of communion, or if a parishioner would call Public Health due to your church practicing communion, then Public Health would have to investigate. The Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health has brought forward these recommendations and has asked that Public Health Boards municipally follow suit.I do hope this clarifies things. I know it is hard however the more we do our best to stop the spread, the quicker we can get back to the way things were in our places of worship pre COVID.
Sent: August 17, 2020 10:29 AM
To: William Burtch <William.Burtch@toronto.ca>
Cc: Councillor Crawford <councillor_crawford@toronto.ca>
Subject: Re: HIGH PRIORITY – Holy Communion in the Churches of Toronto
From: William Burtch <William.Burtch@toronto.ca>
Date: Monday, August 17, 2020 at 9:27 AM
To: XXXX XXXX
Cc: Councillor Crawford <councillor_crawford@toronto.ca>
Subject: RE: HIGH PRIORITY – Holy Communion in the Churches of Toronto
On Aug 15, 2020, at 11:18 AM XXXX XXXX wrote:
Dear Mr. Crawford:
Five days ago I sent you this high priority message.
I understand you are very busy, but my church is waiting for your response.
Please reply as soon as possible.
Thank you,
From: XXXX XXXX
Date: Monday, August 10, 2020 at 10:02 PM
To: “councillor_crawford@toronto.ca” <councillor_crawford@toronto.ca>
Subject: HIGH PRIORITY – Holy Communion in the Churches of Toronto
Dear Councilor Crawford:
I hope you are keeping well and I am very grateful for the updates you email to me, each of which I read from beginning to end. I have been living in Ward XXXX since 1992 and I thank you for keeping me informed.
I have a question about worship, as it specifically pertains to Holy Communion. I understand from previous recommendations or guidelines, that the City of Toronto recommended a suspension of all Holy Communion in the churches of Toronto. I would greatly appreciate it if you could please answer the following questions for me:
Was the suspension of Holy Communion in Toronto a law or a recommendation/guideline/advice?
If it was a law, does it apply to stage 2 or stage 3 of our re-opening or both?
Does the City of Toronto have the right to use the Emergency Act to proclaim such a law?
Please note that my church and co-parishioners regard worship, and specifically Holy Communion as an “essential” service. We are disappointed and upset that our religious rights and freedoms have not been upheld according to the Charter of Rights, to the same extent as other rights and freedoms, such as the right to eat at a restaurant or go to a city park for example. We want our Councilor and our Mayor to understand and acknowledge the importance of worship, especially during difficult times, and if there is a second wave and a second lock down we do not want our worship services, which include Holy Communion to once again be relegated as non-essential. One cannot take Holy Communion virtually.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would give this matter your highest priority by responding to my three questions above.
Thank you very much again for the great work you have been doing in Ward XXXX. I look forward to your reply.
————————————————————————-
The parishioner who generated the second email chain did telephone the Toronto Public Health Covid-19 Hotline and the summary of the discussion was as follows: Public Health and local government do not police individual churches. Only if there is a Covid-19 case which is traced back to a church, or if someone complains to public health regarding any church, then a public health inspector would investigate that church. If it was found that the Covid-19 case or the complaint was related to the communion practices of that church, or any other practices of that church, then measures would be taken at the discretion of the public health inspector. The individual on the phone could not specify what type of measures would be taken and indicated that these would depend on the individual situation. However, the first measures that would be taken include a visit/inspection by public health to the local church in question, followed by public health “education” at that church.
This parishioner asked specific questions regarding church closures or fines, but the response that was repeated was again, first a visit by a public health inspector, followed by education. After that, if the church failed to comply with the recommendations, the “measures” taken would be individually determined. In other cases where some Greek Orthodox churches in Toronto were found to be above their 30% capacity, those churches where closed by the City the following Sunday but reopened the Sunday after that – a small price to pay, in my opinion, in comparison to desecrating a Holy Communion practice. As indicated in the second email chain, such measures are enforceable by public health, not the government or the police.
In conclusion, therefore, when someone complained to Toronto Public Health regarding the communion practices of Toronto’s Greek Orthodox St. Demetrios Church, prompting a public health inspection, the issue raised only involved that church and not all Greek Orthodox churches of Toronto, of Ontario or of Canada. In addition, when any church is reported to public health for any reason, the first response is an inspection and the first intervention that may follow is education, NOT indefinite church closures or fines, as the Orthodox laity were misled into believing by the Archbishop and some clergy of the Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.
When that someone complained to public health about the communion practices at St. Demetrios, Archbishop Sotirios, could have dealt with the issue locally and pastorally instead of immediately imposing a province-wide multiple communion spoon practice. The possible reasons as to why he did so, have been discussed elsewhere, but this second part of our Q&A Tour strongly indicates that the Orthodox laity in Canada were misinformed, misled and mistreated, not by any level of government or public health office per se, but by our own hierarch. Some say that the Covid-19 crisis has been too good of an opportunity for his Eminence to miss, for the furthering of another agenda. Some even say that the complainant was someone from within the Archdiocese.
May God have mercy on us all.
Irene
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.
O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!
I live in York Region where there is no bylaw or regulation that delves into the sanctity of our holy sacraments, let alone into the method by which Holy Communion is dispensed. In fact, the municipal and regional governments have provided education and resources to places of worship and deferred to them on how they can best implement COVID prevention measures at their respective churches etc. The facts on the ground, however, don’t bear this out, through no fault of the government mind you.
Let’s look at the absurdity of what’s actually happening instead. I attend divine liturgy at Saints Panteleimon, Anna & Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church in Markham. A mere 12 kilometres southwest at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, my Antiochian brothers and sisters in Christ receive Holy Communion the traditional way, on one communal spoon.
Both churches are in York Region. Both churches fall within municipalities that, as previously mentioned, have absolutely no bylaws, regulations or prescribed fines related to Holy Communion. But only one church is using multiple spoons at the behest of our Archbishop. Toronto aside, why does the Archbishop insist on multiple spoons in York Region?
I have tried to give the Archbishop the benefit of the doubt but I cannot in good conscience remain silent.
If he is afraid of lawsuits, why are multiple spoons his answer? In the face of alleged pressure from external forces, why did he not vigorously defend the faith but instead went paper-in-hand to the government with a pre-prepared step-by-step multiple spoon solution? A dangerous solution in search of a problem I might add, one that betrays God and His people.
And where did the Archdiocese find so many spoons so quickly, literally overnight? Surely, it did not order and receive them in time for services within 24 hours when estimated delivery times are days, if not weeks, not mere hours as a result of this pandemic.
Now we hear that he has floated his wine-baked prosfora innovation for months, even though we only found out about this a couple of days ago. It begs the question, how long has all of this been in the works and has the pandemic served its purpose in terms of executing this diabolical plan?
Thank you to everyone for their tireless efforts in lifting the veil of deceit and secrecy coming from none other than our Archbishop himself. God help us if this is the calibre of divine inspiration he possesses.