The letter below was originally sent to subscribers of the Orthodox Agape mailing list by Papa Demetrios. The end of Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood have resulted in multiple states moving to ban abortion. The end of nationally mandated abortion is a victory wrought by God’s own hand. However, many states have codified abortion access into their laws. In other states, State Supreme Courts are trying actively to find a “right” to abortion in their state constitutions. The fight for life is far, far from over in this country.
Please read the message below from Fr. Demetrios, and prepare yourself for the battle to come that will be fought in many state legislatures, courts of law, and governors’ mansions. In this war against demonic forces, we need our bishops and priests to lead us as never before. We must remember that some of our hierarchs have honored politicians and cultural figures in the past whose hands were stained by blood of aborted babies. As Fr. Demetrios points out below, those blessed with the priesthood have even given communion to doctors who regularly perform abortions. This cannot continue. All must be called to repentance.
—OR Staff
“And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. [Luke 1:41]
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,
Forty Nine years and five months since the satanic SCOTUS decision, which legalized the cold blooded murder of the most innocent of God’s living ikons of Himself, our Most Sweet Lord Jesus – not the six Supreme Court Justices – has brought an end to the ungodly judgment that turned a mother’s life-preparing womb into a life-destroying tomb for 63 million pre-babies. Yes, beloved ones, I firmly believe that our Lord and Saviour chose the day on which that decision would be made official. For as the Blessed Elizabeth exclaimed to our Most Beloved Panaghia: “For behold, as the sound of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe in my womb leaped in exultant joy [1:44].” The Holy Forerunner, confirmed within his mother’s womb, that they were in the presence of their Saviour, the world’s Saviour, Who was in the womb of His Ever-virgin Mother. What more appropriate day could there have been, my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, to remind everyone that the Holy Spirit Himself spoke in behalf of the voiceless ones — forever! O great mystery!
Unfortunately, the end of Roe vs Wade by no means brings an end to the slaughter of pre-born – and sometimes, born – babies. Now each state will determine whether or not to legalize abortions. Thirteen States (Could this number be also a “message?”) will bring an end to legal abortion in days — even hours; and, hopefully, more states will join them — sooner than later. However, the three States on the West Coast, and several of those in the Northeast, will become “abortion sanctuaries.”
Of course, the pro-death politicians and news commentators were quick to vomit out their blatant lies as to what the decision entailed. Many of them are encouraging their poor, misguided followers to “hit the streets!” And we have years of experience, that those who protest against the sacred right of the pre-born child to be born – those who are seeking to destroy the traditional, God-established family unit in so many ways – will bring hate, violence and destruction when they “hit the streets.” Please join with me in praying that God will intervene, so that there will not be a repeat of the typical pro-death response of violence, crude words and actions.
There is another, equally profound message for our Lord Jesus to have chosen this day for the decision to be made public. The Holy Forerunner proclaimed, vehemently and courageously, the need for everyone to “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens hath drawn near” [Matt. 3:2]. How many of us have ever prayed in front of an abortion facility, or given monetarily and/or our time, in support of pro-life groups, like Birthright, Care Net, Heartbeat International, 40 Days for life, or these Orthodox, pro-life organizations: Zoe for life, Martha and Mary House, and Orthodox Christians for life? How many Priests and Hierarchs are preaching sermons, and teaching our youth, on the sacredness of the life of the pre-born child, and the evil of abortion; and how many of our clergy are seeking to find the women in their respective parishes that have had abortions, and offer them the healing Grace of Holy Confession and deep concern for their wounded souls, as well as financial and moral support for the single moms within their parish families? How many of us, blessed with the Grace of the Holy Priesthood, have knowingly given Holy Communion to doctors that perform abortions, or to lawyers and politicians who actively defend this legalized murder?
Now is the time for all of us to ‘bend the knee of our heart and knees’, every evening until we depart this temporal life, for not doing all that we could have done to bring an end to these 50 years of infanticide. Let us all – Hierarchs, Priests and laity – offer a Paraklesis (Small Supplicatory Canon) to the Theotokos at least once a week — entreating our Most Beloved Panaghia to beg Jesus to intervene, and bring an end to this demonic slaughter in every State! Perhaps the Association of Canonical Orthodox Bishops could make this Paraklesis something that is done weekly in all of their Parishes and Monasteries. Beloved ones, may the Holy Forerunner intercede, so that Jesus blesses all of us with copious tears of repentance! We are members of the One True Church: Holy Orthodoxy. It is time for us to start praying, speaking and acting as if we believe this. It is time for us to witness God’s Truth and Light, even to the shedding of every drop of our blood, within a world immersed in demonic falsehood and darkness. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Much love and prayers in Christ,
Unworthy priest, +Demetrios
P. S. – June 24th is also the birthday of our holy Geronta Ephraim, of thrice-blessed memory. And I believe in my heart that our Geronta has been fervently interceding, before our Lord Jesus’ heavenly throne, for the end of abortion.
