Posted on 01/28/2008 7:53:40 AM PST by NYer
The head of Greece's powerful Orthodox Church, Archbishop Christodoulos, died of cancer on Monday at the age of 69.
A staunch defender of the role of the church in Greece, he died at his home in Athens, only months after plans for a liver transplant in the United States were cancelled.
"He was an enlightened church leader whose work brought the church closer to society, closer to modern problems and to young people," Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said in a statement.
Condolences poured in and crowds of black-clad mourners gathered at his Athens home, where he died, as well as the Metropolitan Cathedral where his funeral will be held after a three-day wake.
"It is like I have lost my father," an elderly woman praying outside the church told Greek TV.
Christodoulos courted controversy from his first reformist days at the helm of the church through to a conservative U-turn that drove away many supporters.
"I am sad for the loss of the person even though I didn't agree with his policies," said Irini Politou, 32, an office clerk.
Christodoulos grudgingly agreed to a landmark visit by Pope John Paul to Greece in 2001 that marked a turning point in relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches since the Great Schism of 1054 that split Christianity.
Born Christos Paraskevaidis in northeastern Greece in 1939, he became the youngest head of the church when he was elected to the top post in 1998, following the death of his predecessor.
He stunned Greeks by calling on young people to return to the church "as you are, earrings and all," and cracking jokes during his weekly sermons, instantly raising his institution's popularity and profile.
But his laid-back approach soon gave way to a bitter feud with the then socialist government over new ID cards, which according to EU directives no longer listed a person's religion.
His frequent tirades against the EU and European culture, his reference to Turks as "barbarians," labeling gays as being "handicapped," and his growing public involvement in foreign policy issues chipped away at his popularity.
He was diagnosed with cancer in June 2007.
"The way he dealt with his disease and imminent death moved us, sending a unique message of courage and dignity," Greek President Karolos Papoulias said in a statement.
Tone I
Where is the pleasure in life which is unmixed with sorrow? Where the glory which on earth has stood firm and unchanged? All things are weaker than shadow, all more illusive than dreams; comes one fell stroke, and Death in turn, prevails over all these vanities. Wherefore in the Light, O Christ, of Your countenance, the sweetness of Your beauty, to him whom You have chosen grant repose, for You are the Friend of Mankind.
Tone 2
Like a blossom that wastes away, and like a dream that passes and is gone, so is every mortal into dust resolved; but again, when the trumpet sounds its call, as though at a quaking of the earth, all the dead shall arise and go forth to meet You, O Christ our God: on that day, O Lord, for him whom You have withdrawn from among us appoint a place in the tentings of Your Saints‑yea, for the spirit of Your servant, O Christ.
Another in Tone 2
Alas! What an agony the soul endures when from the body it is parting; how many are her tears for weeping, but there is none that will show compassion: unto the angels she turns with downcast eyes; useless are her supplications; and unto men she extends her imploring hands, but finds none to bring her rescue. Thus, my beloved brethren, let us all ponder well how brief is the span of our life; and peaceful rest for him that now is gone, let us ask of Christ, and also His abundant mercy for our souls.
Tone 3
Vanity are all the works and quests of man, and they have no being after death has come; our wealth is with us no longer. How can our glory go with us? For when death has come all these things are vanished clean away. Wherefore to Christ the Immortal King let us cry, "To him that has departed grant repose where a home is prepared for all those whose hearts You have filled with gladness." Tone 4 Terror truly past compare is by the mystery of death inspired; now the soul and the body part, disjoined by resistless might, and their concord is broken; and the bond of nature which made them live and grow as one, now by the edict of God is rest in twain. Wherefore now we implore Your aid grant that Your servant now gone to rest where the just that are Yours abide, Life-bestower and Friend of Mankind.
Tone 4
Where is now our affection for earthly things? Where is now the alluring pomp of transient questing? Where is now our gold, and our silver? Where is now the surging crowd of domestics, and their busy cries? All is dust, all is ashes, all is shadow. Wherefore draw near that we may cry to our immortal King, "Lord, Your everlasting blessings vouchsafe unto him that now has gone away. bringing him to repose in that blessedness which never grows old."
Tone 5
I called to mind the Prophet who shouted, "I am but earth and ash." And once again I looked with attention on the tombs, and I saw the bones therein which of flesh were naked; and I said, "Which indeed is he that is king? Or which is soldier? Which is the wealthy, which the needy? Which the righteous, or which the sinner?" But to Your servant, O Lord, grant that with the righteous he may repose.
Tone 6
My beginning and foundation was the form‑bestowing Word of Your commandment; for it pleased You to make me by compounding visible and invisible nature into a living thing. out of earth was my body formed and made, but a soul You gave me by the Divine and Life‑creating In‑breathing. Wherefore, O Christ, to Your servant in the land of the living, in the courts of the righteous, do You grant repose.
Tone 7
Bring to his rest, O our Savior, You giver of life, our brother whom You have withdrawn from this transient world, for he lifts up his voice to cry: "Glory to You." Another in Tone 7 When in Your own image and likeness You in the beginning did create and fashion man, You gave him a home in Paradise, and made him the chief of your creation. But by the devil's envy, alas, beguiled to eat the fruit forbidden, transgressor then of Your commandments he became; wherefore back to earth, from which he first was taken, You did sentence him to return again, O Lord, and to pray You to give him rest. Weep, and with tears lament when with understanding I think on death, and see how in the graves there sleeps the beauty which once for us was fashioned in the image of God, but now is shapeless, ignoble, and bare of all the graces. O how strange a thing; what is this mystery which concerns us humans? Why were we given up to decay? And why to death united in wedlock? Truly, as it is written, these things come to pass by ordinance of God, Who to him now gone gives rest Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. The death which You have endured, O Lord, is become the harbinger of deathlessness; if You had not been laid in Your tomb, then would not the gates of Paradise have been opened;wherefore to him now gone from us give rest, for You are the Friend of Mankind. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Virgin chaste and holy, Gateway of the Word, Mother of our God, make supplication that his soul find mercy.
O God of all spirits and flesh, Who has trodden down death, destroying the power of the devil, bestowing life on Your world, to the soul of Your servant Christodoulos departed this life, do You Yourself, O Lord, give rest in a place of light, in a place of green pasture, in a place of refreshment, from where pain and sorrow and mourning are fled away. Every sin by him committed in thought, word, or deed, do You as our good and loving God forgive, seeing that there is no man that shall live and sin not, for You alone are without sin; Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and Your law is truth. For You are the Resurrection, the Life, and the Repose of Your servant Christodoulos, O Christ our God; and to You do we send up Glory, as to Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Eternal memory.
I remember the explanation how the tones and octives work in the liturgical books, it is a facinating subject.
Sometimes it is interesting to see some of the very very very new denominations essentially recreating the 1800 year old wheel to do the same thing.
Yeah, but when are you going to dump the Julian calendar? ;-)
Please, a little respect. Given the subject of this thread, it shouldn’t be too much to ask for at least that.
It was a joke. Christodoulous was a fine man who, no doubt, had a sense of humor.
AG=Archbishop of Greece ; MP=Moscow Patriarch.
Both of these gentlemen have the dignity of a patriarch, but not the the same title. Metropolitan is the same as Archbishop (Achiepiscop), but more common in Slavic Churches, whereas the latter is more common in the Greek Church.
But, did I understand correctly this much?: the Patriarch is that of Constantinople (EPC), but this Archbishop is that of the Church of Greece, which is a separate entity?
Yes. The EPC, in addition, is also the "Ecumenical Patriarch," a nominal head chair of the world-wide communion of Orthodox Churches. Unlike the Pope, he is merely the elder in honor but not in jurisdiction over other Patriarchs.
They Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are two separate autocephalous Orthodox Churches in communion with each other and all other Orthodox Churches in communion with the EPC.
Are most Greek citizens Church of Greece?
No, because a substantial number of archdioceses in Greece are under the jurisdiction of the EPC and not AG.
May our Heavenly Father bless those who loved him with comfort and peace.
Why should we? It served the Church properly for 2000 years. It was changed by a Freemason implant serving his demonic masters. The change of calendar took place without a Synod. The idiot also recognized Anglican orders and proclaimed union with the Anglican Church.
He wouldn't be the first Ecumenical Patriarch (EP) to display serious signs of straying. Tank God the EP doesn't have papal powers! With their track record the Church would by now be somewhere between Shintoism and Mithaism.
Despite the change in calendar, the Orthodox Pascha (Easter) is celebrated by all Orthodox in the world according to the OLD Calendar because the older calendar is correct vis a vis Church's teaching that Pascha never falls before Jewish Passover as is the case on occasion with the New Calendar.
No, because the East never called itself that.
“Are most Greek citizens Church of Greece?
No, because a substantial number of archdioceses in Greece are under the jurisdiction of the EPC and not AG.”
Not so, Kosta. The overwhelming majority of Greek citizens are members of the Church of Greece, not of dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople. For example, the population of Greece is about 10.7 million. Of those, nearly 4 million live in greater Athens alone. There are another 400,000 in the Peloponnesus, 250,000 around Larissa and at least another 2,000,000 scattered around those parts of Greece not around Salonika or Crete. Those two areas, the only two big areas left, have fewer than 2,000,000.
May God rest his soul.
Ok, just a bit of humor, no offense.
May he rest in peace! Memory Eternal!
Yes, I am remiss in getting caught up in confirming who he is without offering my condolences to the Greek Orthodox community here, and offering a prayer for him.
As you wish.
I promise to tell “Knock, knock” jokes during your funeral Mass...in celebration of your sense of humor. ;-)
Such beautiful words, none can say it better.
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