Ironies abound here folks. According to this latest encyclical,
https://www.goarch.org/-/archiepiscopal-encyclical-invitation-to-participate-in-un-rally-for-macedonia, the “Archbishop of America” is asking the GOA parishes in the Greater New York area to reschedule their liturgies in order to stage a massive protest at the UN.
The issue is Macedonia. Yeah, you read that right. Macedonia.
On behalf of a Greek government that is rabidly secular and atheistic and way more anti-American than even previous Greek governments. Which is led by a prime minister of questionable loyalty to Hellenism.
On the other hand, Turkey (a NATO ally of both Greece and the United States) is making threatening noises about taking “back” some of the Aegean islands that are “within spitting distance of the Turkish mainland”. I wonder if they’re going to force the EP to bless this military endeavor as well? After all, he did bless the Turkish army as they invaded Syria last month.
It’s not a pretty picture. Just remember this the next time the GOA or the Phanar issues a statement condemning those who believe in American nationalism. For that matter, remember that the next time the more progressive elements of American Orthodoxy indict American nationalists who have converted to Orthodoxy. According to these critics, Orthodoxy is a “gateway drug” to nationalism. As such, I expect to see articles from these people condemning the GOA. (Or should I not hold my breath?)
P.S. Please excuse the hurriedness of the vlog as I was under a severe time constraint.
www.greece.greekreporter.com/2018/03/01/new-ministers-swear-oath-without-greek-church
www.gatestoneinstituted.org/11954/turkey-threats-greek-islands
Wow, that’s something else.
The people of Kansas City, Kansas should have a rally against the State of Missouri for their use of the name Kansas City in Missouri. It’s all just too confusing.
LOL! There’s a Kansas, Oklahoma and of course a Paris, Texas.
I hope nobody tells the GOA about Athens, Georgia.
Below please find an article from Sunday, February 18th, on the Pappas Post website.
Macedonia Demonstration at United Nations in New York City on March 18
written by Gregory Pappas
February 18, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/macedonia-demonstration-united-nations-new-york-city-march-18/
Below please find an article from Thursday, February 22nd, on the Pappas Post website.
Opinion: Macedonia Demonstration in NYC is Fourteen Years Too Late
written by Gregory Pappas
February 22, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/opinion-macedonia-demonstration-nyc-fourteen-years-late/
Below please find an article from Saturday, February 24th, on the Pappas Post website.
Archbishop Demetrios of America: Church to Back Macedonian Demonstration in NYC on March 18
written by Gregory Pappas
February 24, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/archbishop-demetrios-america-church-back-macedonian-demonstration-nyc-march-18/
Below please find an article from yesterday on the Greek Reporter website.
New York ‘Macedonia is Greece’ Rally Gets AHEPA Endorsement
By Tasos Kokkinidis
Mar 2, 2018
http://usa.greekreporter.com/2018/03/02/new-york-macedonia-is-greece-rally-gets-ahepa-endorsement/
Below please find AHEPA’s official statement pertaining to the FYROM issue from yesterday in The National Herald.
AHEPA’s Position on the FYROM’s Name Issue
By TNH Staff – March 2, 2018
https://www.thenationalherald.com/192361/ahepas-position-issue-name-fyrom/
Below please find His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios’ Encyclical from Thursday on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website.
Archiepiscopal Encyclical: Invitation to Participate in UN Rally for Macedonia
ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL
Protocol No. 35/18
March 1, 2018
https://www.goarch.org/-/archiepiscopal-encyclical-invitation-to-participate-in-un-rally-for-macedonia
Please reschedule Divine Liturgy….who can believe it?
Unfortunately, I can no longer be shocked. Chagrined, yes; shocked, no.
George
I could see you doing a weekly call in radio show
Personally, I don’t think it would be much more work that you already do. It would just be you commenting further on the articles you did for that week, and then let people call in to discuss further
That radio show is almost already set up with your material
Yes, that would be a good idea. Google Hangouts is a good platform for this, and YouTube has tools as well.
Below please find an article from Friday on the Ortho Christian website.
GREEK MINISTERS SWORN IN WITHOUT CHURCH FOR FIRST TIME SINCE FOUNDING OF HELLENIC STATE
Athens, March 2, 2018
http://orthochristian.com/111164.html
I remember crossing the border into FYROM and seeing the sign reading, “Welcome to Macedonia*. Returning to Greece the sign read, “Welcome to the real Macedonia, Northern Greece, birthplace of Alexander the Great”. Could we have something about the Gospel?
Sure. We could have the Daughters of Penelope and Maids of Athena.
Yesterday, FYROM held a #WeAreMacedonia rally at the National Mall in Washington, DC, from 12-4PM.
https://m.facebook.com/events/1398245720287887/
It was a group of Macedonians from the northeast and it was poorly attended. This issue has been going on since the Republic of Macedonia separated from the former Yugoslavia. First Greece blocked Macedonia from entrance into the UN and could only be allowed in under the provisional name Former Yugo. Republic of Macedonia, until a new name could be agreed upon. Allegedly, a tiny republic of 1.8 million, about the size of Virginia, with a 8,000 standing army is a threat to Greece.
In 2008, Greece vetoed Macedonian entrance into NATO, and they were able to lobby the extra regulatory stipulation for Macedonia to be accepted into the EU only if they change their name. (Why Macedonians want into NATO/EU in the first place is beyond me, let alone why they accepted negotiating their identity to be allowed in ..)
In the meantime, Greece insists that along with the change of the name to either include a geographical qualifier “Northern” “upper” etc, for Macedonia to change her constitution, again (they did so once before to appease Greece by stating they do not have territorial aspirations against her southern neighbor, and then Macedonians changed their flag from the Star of Vergina/Kutles to the “Empire of the Sun”- looking job they have now. This doesn’t seem to be enough for Greeks, alas. And I’m not sure what else Macedonia can change in her Constitution?
A lot of the current angst is due to the previous Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski who took on this grand project of “antiquitization” in Macedonia and erected status of Alexander the Great on every corner and changed the name of the airport to bear this name. It was a bone-head move that could have done with a lot more tact and much less in-your-face posturing. I guess Gruevski was still upset about 2008? In any case, I could care less if Alexander the Great is the centerpiece of Macedonian history or not. He shouldn’t be anyone’s centerpiece for that matter, let alone be a point of contention between two Orthodox nations. Oh the idolatry!
To couple with the problem, the current PMs of Greece and Macedonia are Soros puppets who were instilled by soft-coup by our State Department. They started 2018 in love with each other. Trying to one-up each other trying to prove who is a lesser nationalist, and greater globalist. By the way, yes, Obama used soros monies via nonprofits in the region to topple two traditional, Orthodox govts. The scary thing is that Macedonia’s govt was toppled by Obama elements that remained in the SD after Trump took office.
It looks like the Greek opposition is attempting to take their govt back so they’re making the protests more vocal. I would suspect it’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis who enjoys more support among Church circles since Tspiras is basically a Greek, Obama. Heck, he doesn’t wear a tie either.
So in any case, both sides seem to have agreed upon that Macedonia will accept a qualifier to the name, but Macedonia will not, in any circumstance, change her constitution any more, nor will they accept the “erga omes” stipulation the Greeks are asking for that Macedonians not refer to themselves at home as Macedonians, along with physically forcing the 160 plus nations (including the US, 4 out of 5 Security Council) who have already officially recognized Macedonia as Macedonia to do the same. I’m sorry. I love the Greeks, but I think they’re asking for way too much.
I’d rather see Mitsotakis have power in Greece as he’s closer to my own leanings as long as someone could tell him to stifle it when it comes to the name issue. It’s time to get over it and move on ..
There you have it brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you feel as edified as I do? I know this historical squabble was profusely missing in your lives as the glaring ontological / eschatological significance it has in our Liturgical lives could no longer be ignored. Thanks to Macedonians and Greeks, along with their Bishops!
The Big Endians and the Little Endians. Utterly ridiculous.
What has this to do with the gospel?I scratch my head. We are hemorrhaging , losing people, because we want a christocentric community….
St Peter said we are a Άγιον έθνος. A holy nation….ie the Christian Genos, neither jew nor Greek. Do we care more about our earthly πολιτεια, rsther than our heavenly polity, Philippians 3.?
Fr. Chris, don’t you think you are setting a bad example by criticizing your Archbishop online during Great Lent?
Archbishop Demetrios is accommodating those of us that wish to attend the rally by asking that the orthos and divine liturgy be served earlier. This is hardly something to be troubled about.
The wording of the letter (“it is advisable…”) sounds like the priorities are set in the wrong order. I share Fr. Chris’ concern
Yes. The Priest who says The Good News is more important than taking a Sunday to protest an idiotic and mythological name dispute is setting the bad example.
Lord Have Mercy
Brother, we need to be careful. I already explained the situation above. Nobody is missing church. The Archbishop never said or implied in any way that Christ does not come first and as God alone knows the hearts of men, there is no circumstance that makes it appropriate for us to accuse him of believing that, as if we are better.
What does the demonstration have to do with the Gospel? Surely, the love of nation and heritage is healthy. That is why St. John of Kronstadt wrote this:
“Love the earthly homeland… it has raised, distinguished, honoured and equipped you with everything; but have special love for the heavenly homeland…”.
Many other great saints, including all the Capadoccian Fathers, spoke in the same vein. For example Saint Basil the Great wrote:
“Worthy is he who honours homeland equally with parents”
That is why the Moscow Patriarchate wrote the following in The Basis of the Social Concept:
“The patriotism of the Orthodox Christian should be active. It is manifested when he defends his fatherland against an enemy, works for the good of the motherland, cares for the good order of people’s life through, among other things, participation in the affairs of government. The Christian is called to preserve and develop national culture and people’s self-awareness.”
So it’s fine to love our ethnos and seek it’s well being as long as it does not come before Christ, as you say.
I’ll leave you with a final thought. Owing to our spiritual condition, some hierarchs – on the new calendar at least – have granted a dispensation from the Nativity fast on Thanksgiving day. Other shepherds, while not making any official pronouncements, tacitly approve by maintaining a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. I take it that you would agree that this is a rejection of the Goods News in favour of the world but it is nevertheless widespread (and only one example) and it no doubt implicates even the critics here.
If you believe that the Archbishop made a mistake, which he did not, I hope that you can show him the leniency that you perhaps may show to yourself or to some others when the teachings of Christ have not been kept. With the measure that you judge, you will be judged.
DBJ, our homeland is the good old USA not Greece. Those living in America pledge allegiance to USA not Greece. We pray for our armed forces in the liturgy not Greece’s.
Indeed.
You’ve contradicted yourself. Below you agreed that nothing matters but the Gospel but here you have appointed yourself as arbiter of what cultural identity people are allowed to have.
DBG, as an American I pledge allegiance to the USA; however, my ultimate allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.
Am I to understand that you live in the USA and pledge allegiance to Greece?
Your explanation isn’t satisfactory. Again, below you agreed that only the Gospel matters and that issues of identity are inconsequential. Now you are saying that you need to pledge allegiance to your flag because you are rendering to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. There’s an inconsistency here and you can’t have it both ways.
Furthermore, right now you are reading and supporting a blog where the latest entry is called “Russia is a Civilizational Realm and Counterweight to the West” and which is supportive of Russia, a nation which your government has (unjustly) placed under sanctions. So I ask you, where is your allegiance?
DBG, I both agree and disagree with you (and visa versa with johnkal).
Here’s where you’re right: our elites have placed Russia unjustly under sanctions.
Here’s where you’re wrong (and johnkal is correct): we are called by the Lord Himself and St Paul to honor Caesar. To give him his due. Secular government is a ministry of the Lord in a complementary way that the Church is a ministry. The Church cannot operate in a vacuum.
Having said that, Jesus also said that a “man cannot have two masters”. Many cradle Orthodox have two masters: the old country and this one. That’s not tenable nor is it wise.
russia not only deserved all the sanctions it got, it hasn’t done anything to justify removing them
unjustly my big toe
What about what we did in the Ukraine? Removing a duly elected president via a coup orchestrated by the neocons?
And many evangelical converts to Orthodoxy have drunk the “American exceptionalism kool aid.”
Mr Keys, America is exceptional in my opinion. The republican experiment in Constitutionalism is without precedent in my opinion. Although I believe the default position of humanity is towards monarchy (of which more later), the Founding Fathers took 13 independent States and cobbled together a Federalist enterprise that made monarchy, tyranny and over-centralization impossible. We are seeing that presently with the election of Donald Trump and the reassertion of States’ Rights.
Now, it may all in an a (true) civil war with the disintigration of the American polity and the dissolution of the Constitution –it’s possible. But all things being equal, the various sovereign States make it unlikely that a monarch could hijack the Republic.
George said: “The republican experiment in Constitutionalism is without precedent in my opinion.”
Perhaps, but the idolization of the constitution among many conservatives is also unhelpful. I can remember during the Tea Party days, groups of people were meeting to study the constitution after the model of a Bible study. The prevailing view of this document as virtually a divine revelation has, in the end, made the country worse, because it makes even common-sense changes unthinkable.
I don’t think the founding fathers saw their work as perfect; indeed, the Anti-federalists (who favored the Articles of Confederation) foresaw many of the problems that we are dealing with today. Many, like Jefferson, thought the constitution would be amended regularly, and replaced entirely from time to time. He did not think that a generation should suffer for the mistakes of the one that came before it.
We don’t have a monarchy; but a forced union of states with very different priorities and visions of their futures, forced into a political union that is universally seen as a noose, carried on by fundamental constitutional flaws—is this any better? How does this “effect their Safety and Happiness”?
The collapse of the union cannot come soon enough. Let the people disperse to places where their own ideals are in force, and let them live the way they want, among the people they want.
Mike, a lot of wisdom in your words. Nothing this side of heaven is perfect. Or ever will be. And the flaws in the Constitution reflect that reality. However, all things being equal, if we adhered more directly to the Constitution, we would be much happier.
What do I mean by “adhered more directly”? How about these:
1. No central bank (i.e the Federal Reserve System),
2. No 17th Amendment (i.e. the direct election of Senators was/is an abomination),
3. No Federal Income Tax,
for starters.
Tech glitch..i don’t know why my last paragraph is being italicized…
No, Fr. Chris is setting a good example. Speaking the truth in love.
As for the others, Archbishop, et. al., they should be ashamed.
I could see rescheduling the Liturgy to protest something important, but come on, protesting the name of a country? What are they going to do, change it?
In the middle of Lent, no less, can’t we focus on something that matters? How about encouraging people to go to confession—or attending the liturgy in the first place?
Agreed.
This just in
King Leonidas of Sparta recently found out that there is a ‘Special’ Olympics.
Therefore, Leonidas is calling on the Archdiocese to post-pone Pascha, as there is a scheduling conflict due to a planned Black Mass with members of Lucius Trust
All are invited to gather around the bull that is located outside the UN building – and hold hands while calling upon the Anti-Christ
When asked to comment, King Leonidas said, “Well, hopefully the Dark Lord will finally appear to take over and not do us another Great Pumpkin this year.”
Having decided to flee the GOA after 7 LONG years…….I am not suprised. My 8 children are suprised liturgy is in english, and as a cradle Orthodox Christian I am relived its not, but damn………
The GOA always has been more or less a political lobbying group, lobbying for the “interests” of Greece and of Greek-Americans, whoever arbitrarily determines what those “interests” are to be.
As a secondary purpose, it fancies itself as the private chaplaincy of wealthy Greek-Americans. Preaching the Gospel and spreading the Truth of our faith to anyone who is searching are not part of its objectives. If this happens from time to time, then so be it, but evangelism is not a priority of the GOA.
In the past, there have been wealthy Greek-Americans in the GOA private chaplaincy who have bailed the leadership out, but these days, à la Alex Tsipras, they are finding that fewer and fewer wealthy Greek-Americans care much about the Church. Hence, their current financial predicament.
I’m proud of the Archbishop for not dancing around any more and just putting it all out on the table: “Look,” he says, “it may be Great Lent, but we have bigger fish to fry, like this Macedonia/FYROM name issue. Put Christ on hold while we tackle this important political objective.”
What would St Gregory Palamas think of this? Do the GOA leadership even know or care about his teachings and impact on the church?
If it weren’t so tragic, it’d be comical. The GOA is now reaping what it has sown for decades. From the complete lack of adult catechism to marginalizing the importance of Bible study to the complete neglect of sacraments like Holy Confession, I’d say they are well past the critical mass of faithful needed to make their Archdiocese function. Faithful GOA clergy and parishes should find a welcoming Father-in-Christ Bishop from a parallel jurisdiction who will take them in and allow for spiritual growth. The current crop of GOA leadership will continue to reap what they’ve sown till they end up just removing the icons of Christ altogether and publicly become what they already are: simply another branch of the Greek Embassy.
“Θεέ μου, Θεέ μου, γιατί με εγκατέλειψες;” … “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”
And now there is the ‘flap’ going on in Israel, about taxes, land, and closing the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
This idiotic politicization of the Body of Christ could be attributed to a number of things, however it seems to conveniently wag the dog.
The Archbishop who hasn’t encouraged anyone to demonstrate against anything in recent memory, suddenly takes the role of community activist over the affairs of a foreign state from his God-appointed office.
As for his own role in the mismanagement of the Archdiocese that he heads, well…everyone just move along, there is nothing to see here.
Um…yea, right, I forgot, the GOA has miraculously returned to financial stability.
If anyone has read Metropolitan Evangelos’ encyclical, you will see that not only are we engaged in nonsense, we say nonsense, we are nonsense, if not half-witted fools.
These people make me sick.
GOA Priest
Funny how he’ll march against FYROM, but he will not march for the Holy Innocents, the unborn. Mueller needs to ask whether Demetrios is an unregistered agent of a foreign government and is guilty of collusion.
Yes, but on the other hand, let’s be honest –
Kids are annoying and trademark infringement is a very serious issue
FYROM would be okay if they just referred to their region *officially* as The Notorious MAC
Then they could still call themselves Macedonia in common usage
I prefer to think of true Macedonia as Greekie Smalls
A shout out to my homies from Kavala!
You WIN this dispute Billy Jack… how do we as an Orthodox Community get YOU to replace Mathew Nimitz as chief moderator?
Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
FYROM Protesters Don’t Want Name Deal With Greece
By TNH Staff March 5, 2018
https://www.thenationalherald.com/192671/fyrom-protesters-dont-want-name-deal-greece/
As a Macedonian. Yes, the non-Greek kind. This dispute is the bane of my existance. IT ALONE is the reason why schism is exists in the Balkans, and indirectly in North America.
This is the US, I fully support Greeks being proud about their history and to protest, even to my own personal detriment. But not to the detriment of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Agreed.
One of my dearest professors of Old Slavonic and Church Slavonic spent a long time studying in Thessaloniki as a young man.
A pair of sisters worked as housemaids where he was staying, and he was amazed to hear them speaking between themselves in their native Macedonian language, which preserved a dual form of verbs along with the singular and plural numbers with which we all are familiar.
It was said, long ago, that Alexander the Great, a pupil of Aristotle, understood and spoke Greek well but never lost his Macedonian accent.
The great Alexander’s conquests brought Greek language and — especially — culture to many parts of the world. But that isn’t enough to claim him — or the region of Macedonia — as Greek.
My solution to the whole situation? Let the Republic of Macedonia annex the three Macedonian peripheries of Greece and reconstitute the historic kingdom of Macedonia. Lord knows the classical Greeks didn’t think of the Macedonians as anything but Barbarians and they only want to claim them now because everyone knows the name of Alexander. Aside from all that, though, this is simply nothing for the Church to be concerned with.
Am I reading correctly that parts of a country should be annexed? What kind of evil is this??
Mr. Michalopoulos, please consider the type of blog that you are running. Your desire is for Orthodox Christianity to spread across America yet who would be left with a positive impression of our holy faith after reading this kind of stuff?
Demons are dancing here.
Christ is in our midst!
Dear to Christ, DBG,
If you think what Will Harrington is “demonic” you should try doing some research on the rhetoric of His Eminence, Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki has said to Macedonians. To the likes of, and I paraphrase, “If we shut the port to them, they will starve.” And, “”If you want to become ”Macedonia”, be annexed to Greece!” But historically, there was a Greek Bishop a hundred years back or so, who was much more awful to the Macedonians of that region than Anthimos ever could be. In fact, I’ve heard that when young Macedonians (from the north) come to study seminary in Thessaloniki, he treats them like his own, which I find very double-minded. But, actions speak louder than words is a good thing.
So, pots and kettles, they tend to be black.
I agree the whole dispute may be demonic because it divides brothers. And because we tend to fall into the trap of looking at our neighbor and not seeing the Image and Likeness of our Creator.
My only request is that we don’t pull our children into this garbage. There is a tendency to manipulate them the most. This is especially sad because they also have the tendency to be the most open minded. When I was a kid, I had plenty of Greek friends. They knew who I was and they knew my background. And we lived with each other.
I’m not sure this is possible any longer …
Thank you brother for the good advice. Most of the people I know – on both sides – don’t put politics ahead of Christ. A close Skopjan friend of mine has been very ill for over a year and the priest who has been visiting him is Greek as are most of his friends. May our good Lord give him strength and patience.
Thank you for the piece of information DBG. It gives me hope.
Chris is in our midst!
Cy
MB
Constaninos
Brain
Do you see this one?
Hahahahaha
Agreed. Who cares about a name compared to the Gospel. Why does Greece care? Why does anyone care? Let them be called Macedonia or whatever. Compared to the spreading and teaching of the Gospel this name stuff is nothing. In fact less than nothing.
What a disgrace.
Peter A Papoutsis
Peter, the first time I agree with you.
Mr. Bauman,
If you know anyone who suffers from math anxiety, please tell them to say to themselves,” Math is easy for me.” repeatedly, and to always memorize all the mathematical formulas. ( It comes in handy for baseball)
I have decimal point anxiety. Baseball statistics, except for the most basic stuff, is over my head and beyond my interest. Too much math and the visceral reality of the game itself, not to mention its tradition, tend to get lost IMO.
I mean, who really cares how many ground balls hit at 90 mph to the left of a fielder on Saturday’s at 3:00 PM in a ball park that favors pitchers by a hitter who has a high BABIP pitched by a pitcher with a low WHIP turn into hits and how many do not? …and does the fielder have a good Total Zone rating or a bad one. It is a bit like “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin.” Plus Isaac Asimov’s Foundation starts coming to mind which makes me want to bring back Charlie Finley and his Mule. (Hint literary allusion to one of the main characters in the Foundation Trilogy).
I guess there is baseball in there somewhere and those kinds of things go into determining how much to pay guy or cut guys but good grief.
You got this from The Onion, right?
Not ready for jurisdictional unity, are we?
The most logical time to hold this rally certainly isn’t on a Sunday conflicting with church – if they are looking for mass support from Greek Christians
The most logical time to hold this rally would be on Greek Independence Day
However, that would interfere with the drunken discos planned for that night . . . by AHEPA . . . on church grounds . . . during Lent
It’s only racism if its not good for the Greeks.
The Twenty-Third Chapter of the Gospel according to the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew:
(By the way, do you think Our Lord was speaking only to the scribes and Pharisees?)
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying:
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Maybe the archdiocese could sponsor a new parish level organization specifically intended to organize political actions concerning things in foreign lands with zero importance. I suggest the name “Daughters of Lot”. It reflects all the integrity of the national church and its concerns.
10/10
Except Lot is in the Scriptures. GOA daughters and maids are from Greek mythology and Homer. Need to find something there…..
Yeah, but what Lot’s daughters did was *ahem* unwholesome.
Yes, Macedonia! The soviets grabbed for Macedonia in 860, 1014, 1342, 1878, 1885, 1913, and 1947. See https://sites.google.com/site/persrusmacedonia/.
I am greek and live in Bulgaria. I have been to FYROM and seen and stated in it’s thriving monasteries and seen it’s alive church, including worship in Greek. I have also seen the influence of Saudi and Erdogan ‘s money on the up to now mostly tolerant, local islam and the hate this brings.
To me the Slav Macedonian speak basically bulgarian and are Slav, not Greeks, who came to area from 6thc And. .
As we know Macedonia is a geographical Term and the area is now divided between Greece,FYROM, and Bulgaria.
Yes Alexander the Great was Greek speaking and Cultured, but not that the city states of Athens etc regarded him as such !! And greek byzantine Culture was predominant but if people living in the geographical area of macedonia feel Slav and are in reality, well what can we do about it?. As i said to me they are bulgarian as speak basically bulgarian with some Serbian influence..
Greek politicians brought us 1922and Smryna, and Cyprus in 1974 ‘Triumph’ and now they want FYROM to become a Kosovo and I saw Saudi influence and Turkish.
My fellow Greeks should growing up, Alexander the great, well I said thank you for the compliment. But if we stop scraping of the word macedonia on their car number plates as they entering Greece, perhaps they may stop claiming Alexander was a Slav. Yes they share his history as Uk has Hadrian’s Wall but does not claim Rome. So the same for them.
However Greece should support an Orthodox small country on it’s northern border whose otherwise fall to chaos would mean Turkish troops there possiby and worse,, and instead begin to look at the real danger of Turkey in the Aegean sea and eastern Thrace.
Meanwhile, speaking of protests, Gail just sent me this: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/education/article/Greek-protesters-attack-new-religious-instruction-12727101.php?utm_campaign=fb-tablet&utm_source=CMS+Sharing+Button&utm_medium=social
As far as I’m concerned, this is more like it.
Hitler was Austrian, not German
Stalin was Georgian, not Russian
Napoleon was Corsican, not French
Alexander the Great was Macedonian, not Greek
Debates of map lines and ethnicities continue
However, funny how no one really wants to promote their identity with Hitler, Stalin and Napoleon. Nope. The nation folks associated with those characters try to distance themselves as much as possible there
But the Greeks have always claimed Alexander as a beloved son. This is curious, but to be expected. If you promote Greek culture, you will be viewed as a friend of the Greeks – no matter what! Alexander was their best friend.
The role of Greek BFF has passed on to the GOA
The Byzantine Empire was not Greek in origin. Though comprised of many Greeks, and dominated within Greek culture/world, it was not purely ethnically Greek to the core (leadership). Its most trusted and loyal defenders (Varangian Guard) were not ethnically Greek, either.
Historically, Koreans and the Japanese are sworn enemies. Korean General Moon Moo was buried at sea, so his spirit could, “Forever fight the Japanese.”
Ever notice how many Koreans are opening up Teriyaki huts? Do the Japanese serve Kimchi and something called bim bap along side sushi?
There are far, far more teriyaki shops owned and operated by Koreans than the Japanese. You don’t see the Japanese marching in the streets or committing seppuku over the fact that the Koeans didnt change the name of that very distinct sauce.
Koreans dont sit around and claim they invented teriyaki either!
If I see one more Arab open up a “Greek” kitchen instead of a “Mediterranean” kitchen, call the Archdiocese and cancel Christmas. At least one of them . . .
BJS, Alexander was born in Macedonia but the royal family from which he was descended was of Argive origin and they did their best to always intermarry with Greek females. Alexander’s mother for instance was an Epirote princess.
Yet the man is still known as a Macedonian and not as a Greek
One thing is for sure
Alexander was 2% black
The Achaians, source of Argives, were indeed descendents of Ham, the accursed son of Noah, from Africa, and originally black.
Thanks
Correction
Alexander was 52% black
The exact minimal threshold needed for one to enjoy a Tyler Perry movie
There are secret archives in the Japanese Palace showing the Japanese emperor is really Korean. Of course, the Korean, Jpanaese, Mongol, Turk, Hungarian, Finn and American Indian languages are all Ural Altaic (ie Magog). See Hugh Pope, Sons of Conquerors. We need to make DNA registry mandatory to end all racism, then all the white trash will see they are more trash than white, and the disputes of Catalonoia, Corsica and Macedonia will wither away. Don’t forget that Pushkin was one quarter African and had kinky hair or that King David was Scythian (cognate: Azkenaz) and had red hair and the mother of Solomon was a slant-eyed Turanian Turkish Hittite. Harold Bloom’s Western Canon claims Bathsheba, Solomon’s Turkish mother, wrote the Pentateuch. And yes, the Trojans were Hittite Turks.
VC
Not quite sure what you are trying to say, but I’m still pretty sure it’s weird
Lay off the ouzo or metaxa, if you please.
Below please find an article from today on the Pappas Post website.
Photos) Ultra-Nationalism Rears Its Ugly Head as FYROM, Greek Communities Battle it out in Australia over “Macedonia” Name Issue
written by Gregory Pappas
March 6, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/photos-ultra-nationalism-rears-ugly-head-fyrom-greek-communities-battle-australia-macedonia-name-issue/
Below please find an article from last Tuesday on the Pappas Post website.
Prime Minister: Four Name Options for Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Table
written by Gregory Pappas
February 27, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/prime-minister-four-name-options-former-yugoslav-republic-macedonia-table/
Below please find an article from yesterday on the World Religion News website.
GREEK PRIESTS PROTEST NEW RELIGIOUS TEXTBOOKS
06 MAR 2018 – POSTED BY COREY BARNETT
https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/greek-priests-protest-new-religious-textbooks
Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
FYROM Premier Zaev Offers Greece International Treaty Over Name Deal
By TNH Staff March 7, 2018
https://www.thenationalherald.com/192916/fyrom-premier-zaev-offers-greece-international-treaty-name-deal/
Pleaee accept my apology, I wasn’t sure where to post this. Below please find an article from yesterday on the Katehon website.
COLLAPSING EUROPE NEEDS CHRISTIANITY
06.03.2018
Europe
The following text is based on the interview by Tim Kerby with Danish journalist, documentarian, and radio host Iben Thranholm on the issue of the future of Europe and its need of Christian faith in order to survive.
http://katehon.com/article/collapsing-europe-needs-christianity
Katehon is a good website btw.
Vlakentios Murgomutrenios, a frequent reader and quoter of this blog on Hollis FM, was recently claiming Jesus Christ specifically chose the Greeks as the new Chosen People. This is not surprising, there was a song popular in the 1970s “είμαστε ο αφέντης λαός, είμαστε του κόσμου το φως, όπως είπε και ο Χριστός” (We are the master race, we are the light of the world , as Christ said)
Ironically, I’m sure a lot of Greeks back in the day blasted their Greek master race pop song on an Alpine stereo
Wuh wuhhhhh
Check out newspaper stories from USA Greek parishes over a hundred years ago at https://sites.google.com/site/lakisvelotris/2cyusgknw.pdf and you will see that nothing has changed and nothing will change
During this Great and Holy Lent, I wanted to share with my brothers and sisters in Christ this beautiful and touching video which was sent to me.
The title of the video is PISTEVO “I Believe” – Bringing Iconography to the Greek Orthodox Church of Our Saviour in Rye, NY. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This first link is a brief history of the making of the video. The Art of Belief – Divine Inspiration Through Iconography
http://theartofbelief.org/
This second link is the actual video.
https://youtu.be/qUikmRlmd3Y
Why are you so “Greatly Saddened” by these videos?
Below please find two articles from today on the Pappas Post website.
Thousands Expected at March 18 ‘Macedonia’ Demonstration as Community Organizes
written by Gregory Pappas
March 11, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/thousands-expected-march-16-macedonia-demonstration-community-organizes/
Archbishop Encourages Parishes to Reschedule Divine Liturgy for March 18 Macedonia Rally in New York City
written by Gregory Pappas
March 11, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/archbishop-encourages-parishes-reschedule-divine-liturgy-march-16-macedonia-rally-new-york-city/
George, unfortunately most of the flaws you mention here: https://www.monomakhos.com/i-guess-the-goa-isnt-going-to-turn-the-corner-anytime-soon/#comment-120161
were actually added to the Constitution through the amendment process as a result of Populist/Progressive movement of the late 19th, early 20th century in response to East Coast economic dominance and unfair dealing with folks in our part of the country.
Let us not forget either that the income tax was instituted in part because President Grover Cleveland went to his good friend J.P Morgan and asked for a loan to keep the US running after the Panic of 1893. That ain’t really good for freedom either of course it might easily fit in with monarchy.
Then we should not fail to mention probably the most onerous part of the un-amended Constitution, The Commerce Clause. Talk about the termite in the wood work.
Face it, all government is fundamentally some type of oligarchy that depends solely on the personal integrity of those in the oligarchy for the quality and justice of the laws and their enforcement. Good government also is greatly enhanced by two things: 1 the proximity of the governors to the governed; and 2. the relative homogeneity of the governors and the governed. The U.S. has passed the point where either of those two things is likely or possible.
There is much to be said for Fredrick Jackson Turner’s thesis that our freedom and prosperity depended on the availability of the frontier. My dad was one of the last true pioneers his father and the rest of the family having homesteaded in New Mexico in 1905.
That frontier closed forever in 1912.
Mike is right in this case.
Thanks for the day brighter. Loved the music.
Below please find an article from Thursday on the Pappas Post website.
Despite Claims of ‘Financial Stability,’ Archdiocese Offers HQ Building in Manhattan as Collateral for $10 Million Loan
written by Gregory Pappas
March 15, 2018
http://www.pappaspost.com/despite-claims-of-financial-stability-archdiocese-offers-hq-building-in-manhattan-as-collateral-for-10-million-loan/
Below please find a press release from yesterday on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website.
The Hierarchical Ordination of Metropolitan-elect Nathanael of Chicago
Press Office – Stavros Papagermanos
pressoffice@goarch.org
Mar 16, 2018
https://www.goarch.org/-/the-hierarchical-ordination-of-metropolitan-elect-nathanael-of-chicago
Below please find an article from yesterday on The National Herald.
Archbishop Demetrios Says He’s “Homeless”, “Poor”
By Theodoros Kalmoukos
March 18, 2018
https://www.thenationalherald.com/194075/archbishop-demetrios-says-hes-homeless-and-poor/
In related news
Father Abraham also described himself to The National Herald as a “transient” living in a “tent city”
I found this article tremendously depressing and (sadly) representative of an extremely emotionally manipulative and emotionally unhealthy hierarch.
How can anyone take the Archbishop seriously when he says he is “homeless” and “poor” while living quite well in Manhattan’s upper east side?
Isn’t an archpastor supposed to encourage his flock to a Life in Christ — encouraging tithing as part of the spiritual life? Big shocker: if the GOA had enough tithing, then there would be no financial problems. Instead, he has relied on “friends” to give “millions” when needed (as he himself says), and now that he cannot find any of these “friends.” So he does not know what to do, except to emotionally manipulate his flock into a pity party?
I left the GOA years ago, but if I were still there, I would find it terrifying to have an Archpastor who does not hesitate to emotionally manipulate his flock to achieve an end. Heck, I am not part of his flock anymore and I still find it terrifying. Extremely emotionally unhealthy and representative of the utmost dysfunction.
———————————————-
“His Eminence Archbishop Geron of America Demetrios left everyone speechless when he arose at the end of the local Clergy Laity Congress of the Direct Archdiocesan District of New York on March 3 and declared that he is “homeless” and “poor.” He said he doesn’t have any money, except enough for his burial. The event took place at the St. Michael parish community center in Port Washington, NY.
It is reminded here that Archbishop Demetrios refused to live in the home of the late Archbishop Iakovos, located in well-to-do Rye, NY, stating the commute was too lengthy to the Archdiocese in Manhattan.
The house was sold for $3 million at a time when the real estate market was at its lowest level. Of that amount, $800,000 was used to repair the roof at the Archdiocesan headquarters and, as The National Herald revealed, the rest is missing. No report has been given about the sales, nor was the money referred to in any budget.
At the March 3 local Congress, Demetrios also said that his parents left their family home to his brother and him, but he sold his portion and used the money to provide scholarships to students. He also said he doesn’t know a car, though it is common knowledge that the Archdiocese provides him with a deluxe-feature Audi, and two deacons drive him around.
He also said he never used the credit card issued to him, and recently had problems locating it during the card-cutting process the Archdiocese recently underwent. But the deacons use the card on Demetrios’ behalf, because it is unbecoming for an archbishop to use it directly.
Demetrios also said that he inherited a multimillion-dollar debt from his predecessor, Archbishop Spyridon, and that when Demetrios took over, he would pick up the phone, call a friend, and say he needed a million dollars. The friend might give $1.2 million instead, insisting that the Archdiocese keep the extra money for expenses. “I was expecting someone wealthy to give money” this time around, for the Archdiocese and the St. Nicholas National Shrine, he said, but nothing like that has happened.
He said he worked very hard and brought peace and love to the Church. He repeated again that he didn’t know anything about the financial problems of the Archdiocese, which contradicts the January 24 letter ousted Executive Director and close confidant Jerry Dimitriou wrote to him, stating Demetrios was the one making the decisions.
Archdiocesan Council Treasurer Michael Psaros spoke about the Archdiocese’s efforts to rejuvenate, and said it is now operating on solid foundations.”
For one of the truly more sophisticated arguments in favour of Macedonia being Macedonia, please consider reading Macedonia and Greece…, by John Shea
Below please find a press release from Friday on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website.
Announcement of the Holy Eparchial Synod (March 16, 2018)
Office of the Holy Eparchial Synod
NEW YORK – March 16, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD
https://www.goarch.org/-/announcement-of-the-holy-eparchial-synod-march-16-2018-
How come there were more Greeks at the Macedonia rally than all those attending the pan-slav power-grab fiction of “American Orthodoxy” parishes the same day?
Below please find a “Letter to the Editor” from today in The National Herald by Nestor Seferiades of Chicago, Illinois.
Letter to the Editor: On the Archdiocese
By TNH Staff – March 20, 2018
https://www.thenationalherald.com/194482/letter-to-the-editor-on-the-archdiocese/
Below please find an article from yesterday in The National Herald.
Macedonia Rally in NYC Draws Large Crowd (Pics & Vid)
By Eleni Sakellis – March 20, 2018
https://www.thenationalherald.com/194066/greek-american-community-plans-new-york-rally-for-macedonia/
Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
Greece, FYROM Dance Around Name Settlement Feud
By TNH Staff – March 21, 2018
https://www.thenationalherald.com/194557/greece-fyrom-dance-around-name-settlement-feud/
Below please find a letter by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, to the Metropolis of Chicago from Monday, on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website.
Archbishop Demetrios’ Letter to the Metropolis of Chicago
Protocol Number 41/18 March 19, 2018
https://www.goarch.org/news/releases/2018/-/asset_publisher/7NCuYdJYMvgG/content/archbishop-demetrios-letter-to-the-metropolis-of-chicago?_101_INSTANCE_7NCuYdJYMvgG_languageId=en_US
The ceremony today at the Chicago Annunciation Cathedral was very moving. I think Chicago now will have a faithful steward to guide them, as the new Metropolitan used words like “accountability” and “transparency” in his address, which is exactly what Chicago (and for that matter, the entire GOA) needs at this point. The Metropolitan also mentioned that His Grace, Bishop Mokissos is the”former chancellor” of Chicago and is now assigned to the Archbishop as an auxiliary bishop and thanked him for his service. The Bishop is on a year sabbatical and was not present for the beautiful ceremony.
Below please find an article in The National Herald which has been posted on OCL’s website.
Analysis: Where are We Going – on a Dead-End Route?
BY WEBMASTER ON MARCH 22, 2018
GOVERNANCE & UNITY ESSAYS, GOVERNANCE
https://ocl.org/analysis-where-are-we-going-on-a-dead-end-route/
The writer says:
“…… the crucial question on the minds of thousands of Greek-Americans throughout the United States is: where are we going as an Archdiocese and a community in general?”
As a member of the GOA, but not being a Greek-American (Anglo/Scots on both sides), should I be asking this question also?