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Comments Posted By J. Paul Ford

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Fr Touma Bitar on the Situation in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

“There is nothing new under the sun…”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10977698/Christians-flee-Iraqs-Mosul-after-Islamists-tell-them-convert-pay-or-die.html

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 20, 2014 @ 1:24 am

Dokos charged with a felony: Accused of improperly spending funds from trust account

Fr. George Washburn,

I’d like to pick your legal brain if it would not be inappropriate please:

Is it normal procedure to disclose details of a complaint in a class G felony to the general public? Why would one choose to do that?

Is a class G felony also tried by a jury?

Because the alleged crimes take place in several different states where does the trial take place and does it make a difference?

Could all the media attention act as grounds for dismissal or mistrial especially if it inhibits jury selection?

I don’t understand the logic in making all these accusations known to the general public, I was hoping you might be able to shed some light. Many thanks.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 12, 2014 @ 5:35 pm

Piano 1956: Is it really necessary? I know it’s difficult to feel sympathy for the man especially since all the information currently available would indicate that he created his own misery and betrayed the trust of his parishioners, but he’s been publicly disgraced, humiliated, his sins and trespasses laid out for all the world to see. And still this is not enough for you. You would call the people to judge him and rip him to shreds. How much could you stand if you were in his position? Just curious.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 12, 2014 @ 11:01 am

Archbishop Joseph Elected Metropolitan of All North America

That would be a cool tattoo! Now say it five times fast…backwards.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 9, 2014 @ 12:02 pm

Twisting in the Wind

To avoid confusion: Meletios served as a hierarch in several different Orthodox jurisdictions. So in one Church record he may be referred to Meletios II (or B) in another as Meletios IV, in yet another as Meletios of Kition. All these records are referring to the same individual.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 19, 2014 @ 8:43 am

Hi Peter,

I wasn’t able to confirm or deny with any amount of certainty the information contained on the links you provided.

What I did find is another website which gives a much more detailed description of the chronological events of Meletios B’s alleged Masonic induction, activities and support.
I leave everyone to determine their own conclusions.

http://orthodoxianthanatos.blogspot.in/2010/08/blog-post_4019.html?m=1

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 19, 2014 @ 6:09 am

The Ruling Class Takes One on the Chin

Hi Colette,

I know that Fotis Kontoglou is very recent within the iconographic tradition (modern) in fact, but as you are more than likely aware, he is credited with returning modern iconography to it’s more traditional roots through the publication of his version of the ” painter’s manual” of Dionysios of Fourna in two volumes. It is extensive and written with painstaking detail while also containing beautiful drawings done in ink. The painter’s manual was also supplemented with what was observed by Kontoglou himself in various historic churches (the placement of icons within the church, use of colors, etc.).

I had the great fortune recently to look through a first edition of this two volume set. This is what Fotis Kontoglou has to say concerning the ancient of days: “it is painted in the vault opposite of the proskomidi (on the right hand side of the altar as you face it) and resembles in all manners the Pantokrator with the exception that the hair, beard, and eyebrows are white. The right hand may be depicted holding the Holy Spirit, but it is not always the case. The inscription should read ” ancient of days”. ”

I recall seeing a similar icon in the position as described by Fotis Kontoglou in an ancient Church in Mistras in Greece some years ago. From the 10th century if I recall correctly. Sorry , I don’t remember the name of the church.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 15, 2014 @ 2:16 pm

This is useful for me . Thankyou. I will read the articles you provided and get back to you.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 7, 2014 @ 8:14 pm

Dn. Brian, thank you for your exegesis of the historical facts. So what precisely is the point you are trying to make? As mentioned previously the female diaconate was never dissolved, it just fell into disuse. This isn’t my opinion or interpretation this is a fact. Bishops in whom have been vested with the authority and power to bind and loose on heaven and earth have disagreed with your interpretation. That tells me someone is misinformed. Figure it out between yourselves and let the rest of us know. ‘Kay?

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 7, 2014 @ 7:33 pm

I like the way you express your reasoning on the issue of the female diaconate Collette. It is concise without being alarmist and doesn’t entirely throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water.

As expressed in another comment, part of the larger issue may be how to preach the Orthodox faith and live an Orthodox ecclessiology in a society which is heterogeneous in it’s value system and consequently relativizes truth.

The entire issue of feminism and same sex issues (IMHO) are flip sides of the same coin. They are pastoral issues resulting from a wrong comprehension of personhood. If a person has a mistaken perception of Orthodox Soteriology, Christology and personhood, quite naturally they will have great difficulty trying to comprehend their own place in relation to the rest of creation.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 7, 2014 @ 4:39 pm

OK Dn. Brian. See how you’re responding right there? THAT’S what an ad hominem looks like without saying anything substantial.
When you poo poo the source BECAUSE it is Wikipedia rather than see where it is consistent with other reaserchers like Kyriaki Fitzgerald, Archdeacon John Chrysavgis, Lewis Patsavos, and Valerie Karras (just to name a few) and where it deviates. Even the way you relay what was reported on Wikipedia was biased.

The paragraph referring to a female bishop makes reference to an icon discovered with the inscription Episcopa Theodora (feminine endings on both the title and the name). Someone tried to change the title to the male form episkopos implying in someone’s mind a conspiracy to cover up the existence of a female something or other. When I read that I just laughed, knowing that at one time Bishops were married. It could have been a bishop’s wife, or a woman who was set to be the overseer of an area (“episkopos” means literally someone who over sees eventually it came to be used interchangeably with Despota). So really it’s all about how one chooses to interpret (and with what agenda) the historical evidence.

Your repeated question was why does an abbess need to be a deacon? Let’s rephrase it because as “what about St.Nectarios” pointed out through a link that they were kind enough to provide there is an organized inter Orthodox movement underway to reestablish the permanent diaconate and training programs to go along with it which are offered through Orthodox Seminaries. I saw nothing about studies being limited to males or ordinations to diaconate for that matter. For the priesthood at least they write explicitly on the HC/HC website that only men are candidates for the priesthood,but that’s a no brainer I hope. So your question needs to be rephrased why ordain women to the diaconate? As the diaconate website pointed out they would not be monastics but be ambassadors of their local bishop reporting directly to the bishop in whatever ministry he assigns them. Which could range from parish administration, to running a soup kitchen, counseling, running camps, philanthropic works, hospital visitations, prison ministry, etc. If the bishop thinks they should be in the altar, that is his right as well and he will answer to God for it.

As I said previously all the hierarchy of the church of Greece does see a need. Just because you can’t or don’t want to see it doesn’t mean that need doesn’t exist.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 7, 2014 @ 11:13 am

Mr.Michalopoulos,
I understand your concerns completely, although truthfully I don’t see what the Metropolitan’s mommy’s personal faith affiliation and occupation has to do with his ability to lead. By your reasoning the previous Metropolitan was also comprised because his parents were adherents of another faith and his sister of blessed and beloved memory only was received into the Orthodox Church prior just prior to her falling asleep.
Such inconsistency in your reasoning is hitting below the belt on your part Micholopoulos. I would like to believe that you don’t do it intentionally. The Church can not be ruled by fear and paranoia. It must be guided by the Holy Spirit. Of course Bishops are flawed,but if we don’t trust the Holy Spirit to intervene through our fervent prayers then we blaspheme it and then for sure there is no hope for us.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 7, 2014 @ 1:09 am

I’m concerned with the way Dn. Brian Patrick Mitchell is presenting his arguments and the historical facts concerning the female diaconate. There are so many resources easily and readily available online with a simple Google search which are written by well known Orthodox Theologians and canonists and yet he offers generalizations of the historical records inconsistent with these same professors and then draws the alarming conclusion that if the female diaconate were restored on a full scale througout the church the way that it is being attempted in Greece the natural offshoot will be the opening of feminist flood gates en masse. I can see it now… angry hordes of shirtless she-males with fiercely gelled and spiked hair will invade the bishop’s office and demand to be ordained. The bishop? He can’t say no. Right? Because in reality he is just a slave to the will of his flock and has absolutely ZERO discernment when it comes to stuff like ordinations. Right? That is what Dn. Brian meant when he wrote about a stalking horse challenging the male priesthood.

Dn. Brian did you just waltz into your bishop’s office and demanded ordination? How much sillier can reasoning or an argument get? The entire Church of Greece disagrees with your assessment that there is no need for the female diaconate. Their Holy Synod voted unanimously to reinstate it. You get it deacon? One of the oldest autocephalous Orthodox Churches disagrees with you categorically. There is indeed a need. What they have been unable to figure out is how to implement the office effectively and the precise form it will take. That you don’t see or understand the need only indicates that you lack vision and insight in this particular matter and prefer to view the issue through the goggles of your passions and ideologies.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 6, 2014 @ 3:47 pm

Playing with Fire: What Previous Popes Had to Say about Socialism

The difference between the Acts of the Apostles and Socialism is that in the Acts everything was in common. In Socialism it was just an ideal never put into practice as the people who can live it can testify. The casual reader can compare for themselves the difference between two societies with just a cursory reading of the Acts in comparison to George Orwell’s allegorical work Animal Farm.

» Posted By J. Paul Ford On July 10, 2014 @ 7:22 am