Posted on 05/20/2020 5:44:30 PM PDT by marshmallow
Having threatened to excommunicate Greek Minister of Education Niki Kerameus for her public statements about the coronavirus being spread through the act of communing of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, His Eminence Ambrose, the retired Metropolitan of Kalavryta, proceeded to do so after the Divine Liturgy yesterday, May 17.
However, his decision was not supported by the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
On April 30, Kerameus stated on Greek television that it is scientifically proven that the coronavirus can be spread through saliva, and thus it is dangerous to take Holy Communion. This statement is “not only heretical, from a theological point of view, but also destructive for the conscience of Orthodox Christians!” Met. Ambrose believes.
Following the Sunday Liturgy, His Eminence read out the excommunication of Minister Keramaeus, as well as Prime Minster Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias, reports Vima Orthodoxias.
The Prime Minister is accused of blaspheming Christ and referring to the clergy as “chickens,” and Minister Hardalias of planning to microchip the people—preparing for the coming of the antichrist. It is widely reported that both of these accusations are fake news, while the Metropolitan counters that the Ministers themselves have never denied them.
His public proclamation came on the same day that the Greek faithful were first allowed to return to Divine services.
The same day, the Holy Synod announced that it considers the excommunication to be non-existent and powerless.
(Excerpt) Read more at orthochristian.com ...
Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!
Those Orthodox don’t screw around.
My understanding (open to correction) is that the bishop is retired. So it is questionable whether he had canonical authority to excommunicate anyone. But he gets points for defending the Church in a way that got everyone’s attention.
That is my understanding as well.
But nevertheless it was a very needed (however nuanced) abuse to politicians who presume to be theologians.
OK, something feels a bit strange about posting “politicians who presume to be theologians” on the eve of the Feast of Sts. Constantine and Helen, Equals to the Apostles.
After all, Constantine did place himself at the head of the First Ecumenical Council....
Did you know that everything theological was affirmed by a vote of the bishops, and Constantine didn’t vote?
Of course he did not vote...he did not need to.
An Emperor’s influence extends beyond voting.
I believe that all 7 Ecumenical Councils were presided over by the then-current Byzantine Emperor. But the Emperors did not vote!
Catholics and Orthodox may despise American Fundamentalist Protestants, but they're sure picking up their ideas! No way have any of the ancient churches ever taught anything like this before.
So when do the ancient churches start announcing that J*sus is going to personally return and rule the world for a literal thousand years from Jerusalem?
Correct...and that is why there ave been no Ecumenical Councils since the 15th Century.
Now that assembly in Crete....
....Catholics and Orthodox may despise American Fundamentalist Protestants....
Wrong-O!!!! Faithful Orthodox Christians LOVE American Fundamentalist Protestants!! We want them to visit our churches, learn about our faith, and become Catechumens!!!!
Of course, the evil coronavirus has put a stop to all of that! May God DESTROY the coronavirus by His Almighty Power, and leave scientists scratching their heads as to what happened to the virus!!
As for the Greek government officials who want to imitate the fundamentalist version of antichrist, they are obviously not faithful Orthodox Christians. May God bring them—and us—to repentance!!!!
Coulda fooled me. My impression was that Orthodox churches were strictly ethnic entities and didn't really appreciate being diluted by converts. We used to have (perhaps still do) an Orthodox poster on this forum who constantly referred to non-Greek Orthodox as "xenoi"
At any rate, historical chrstianity is so radically different from American-style Fundamentalist Protestantism that never the twain shall meet. I myself became a Noachide when I acknowledged historical "apostolic" chrstianity but realized every reason I ever had for believing in chrstianity had been destroyed.
Not to mention they are allergic to your low view of the Bible (a subject on which you folks are just plain wrong).
....they are allergic to your low view of the Bible (a subject on which you folks are just plain wrong).....
We do not have a low view of the Bible! We gave the Bible to the world!!!!
https://www.eurekafirstchurch.com/meet-the-church-that-gave-us-the-bible/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.