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Press Bulletin of the Holy Synod


Hearing and decision of the Standing Holy Synod on the Most Rev. Metropolitan Theokletos

Athens, February 8, 2005


The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece of the 148th Synodal Period convened on Τuesday, February 8, 2005, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, in Its fourth session for February.

Α. The Standing Holy Synod took knowledge of the written explanation provided by the Most Rev. Metropolitan Theokletos of Thessaliotis and Phanariofersala regarding the accusations formulated against him by his predecessor, former Metropolitan Konstantinos of Thessaliotis in a written document.

The Holy Synod, despite the fact that his accuser cannot be regarded as a reliable witness, since he remains under the penalty of excommunication, thought of the provided explanation as sufficient, in particular following the written formal declaration adduced by the Most Rev. Metropolitan Alexios of Trikki, whom the former Metropolitan Konstantinos of Thessaliotis has named as witness to the supposed truth of his accusations, that he denies the despicable slander.

However, because the Most Rev. Metropolitan Theokletos of Thessaliotis “asked and entreated the Holy Synod not to declare the case closed, even if his explanation be regarded as sufficient, but to investigate even the slightest detail of this sad case in every legal and canonical manner, so that he may be rendered clean to the conscience of the Church”, the Holy Synod finally decided, for the greater benefit of the Church, not to put the case on file, as is dictated by Article 143 of the law 5383/1932 “On Ecclesiastical Courts and the Procedure Before Them”, but, by a legitimate transcendence of the law, to proceed nonetheless to an investigation.

The Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Xanthi, Vice-President of the Standing Holy Synod, was appointed as Ecclesiastical Investigator.

Β. Moreover, the Standing Holy Synod decided that, following the establishment, by Its decision of yesterday, of a three-member Committee of Synodal Hierarchs, to which anyone in possession of legal evidence against clergymen may adduce such evidence so that it be competently verified, the participation of clergymen in discussions on television, radio stations and other media regarding ecclesiastical aberrations is of no use, from now on, unless it is effected following a specific instruction of the Holy Synod.

Finally, the Standing Holy Synod discussed and made decisions on current service matters. The proceedings of the Standing Holy Synod will be resumed on Monday, February 14, 2005.


From the Press Office of the Holy Synod


[Transl. by Dr Nikolaos C. Petropoulos,
M.St., D.Phil. (Oxon.)]
Press Bulletin of the Holy Synod


The Holy Synod has appointed a Committee in order to consider the elements against bishops and take the necessary measures

Athens, February 7, 2005


The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece of the 148th Synodal Period convened on Τhursday, February 7, 2005, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, in Its third session for February.

A. Following Its Press Bulletin of 3.2.2005, in para. 4 of which it was stated that “willing to shed abundant light on rumours and any other information injuring the honour and the reputation of Clergymen of our Church, the Standing Holy Synod shall invite those faithful who possess legal evidence of accusation responsibly to depose it to the competent Ecclesiastical Bodies, thus contributing to the right manner of dealing with eventual aberrations which harm the authority of the Church”, and the words of His Beatitude yesterday during the Synodal Divine Liturgy, in the Holy Monastery of Penteli, the Standing Holy Synod appointed a three-member Committee of Hierarchs, consisting of the Most Rev. Metropolitans Panteleimon of Xanthi, Vassileios of Elasson and Eusebius of Samos, so that, within the following days, may invite all those who have declared through the media that they possess inculpatory evidence against Hierarchs to depose it before it with a view to taking the necessary steps.

Β. After taking knowledge of a publication in one of today’s newspapers regarding the Most. Rev. Metropolitan Stephanos of Trifylia, It decided that, in accordance with Article 143 of Law 5383/1932 “On Ecclesiastical Courts and the Procedure Before Them”, It request today explanation in writing on the part of the Most Rev. Stephanos.

C. Likewise, It decided to proceed, through the Financial Inspectorate of the Church, to a financial audit in the Holy Metropolitanate of Kefallinia, following a written request of the Most Rev. Metropolitan Spyridon of Kefallinia regarding this matter, in response to related publications of the Press.

Finally, the Standing Holy Synod discussed and made decisions on current service matters.

The Standing Holy Synod will continue Its sessions for the whole of February.


From the Press Office of the Holy Synod


[Transl. by Dr Nikolaos C. Petropoulos,
M.St., D.Phil. (Oxon.)]
Press Bulletin of the Holy Synod


Subject: Hearing and decision of the Standing Holy Synod on the Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica

Athens, February 4, 2005


The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece of the 148th Synodal Period convened on Friday, February 4, 2005, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, in Its second session for February.

The Standing Holy Synod, listened to the Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica, who had been legally summoned to appear before It and to provide explanation so that it may be decided whether Article 34 of the Law 590/1977 is applicable, as had been unanimously decided in Its session yesterday.

After the explanation, which the Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica provided orally for one and a half hours, and the answers, which he gave to the questions addressed to him by the President and the members of the Standing Holy Synod, were heard, he left the Board Room.

In the ensuing discussion the Standing Holy Synod unanimously decided that, in accordance with the aforementioned provision, It put the Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica at the disposal of the Church for six (6) months.

Finally, the Standing Holy Synod discussed and made decisions on current service matters.


From the Press Office of the Holy Synod


[Transl. by Dr Nikolaos C. Petropoulos,
M.St., D.Phil. (Oxon.)]
Press Bulletin of the Holy Synod


Subject: Drastic decisions in the Church

Athens, February 3, 2005


The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece of the 148th Synodal Period convened on Τhursday, February 3, 2005, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, in Its first session for February.

In the last couple of days, the Holy Synod and Its President, His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, have been watching with great attention and with sadness all that is said and written about servants of our Church. Being deeply aware of their responsibility in the face of God and the people, and clearly willing to proceed immediately to an uncompromising purge within the Church, they dealt exclusively with the situation as this has been formed and the Standing Holy Synod unanimously made the following decisions:

Α.
1. That it be asked of the Government to constitute, according to Article 44 para. 1 of Law 590/1977 “On the Charter of the Church of Greece”, a legislative Committee made up of members of clergy and laity under the Presidency of His Beatitude the Archbishop and with representatives of the Church and of the State participating in it in equal numbers, so that a new law may be drafted regarding ecclesiastical courts, modernise the existing regime and make the manner of administering ecclesiastical justice more reliable.

2. However, until this law be passed and because of the urgency of the matter, that it be asked of the Government to introduce to the Parliament a bill that will provide two amendments to Law 5383/1932 “On Ecclesiastical Courts and the Procedure Before Them” with immediate effect as follows:

(a) If it be alleged that a Clergyman or a Monk has fallen to a canonical offence which caused most severe scandalisation of the faithful, manifested through the Press, television or any other means, and if the relevant Bishop, who in principle has and maintains the undiminished right of judgment, or in his absence the Vicar Episcopal, neglects in proceeding to an investigation, and having first asked the relevant Metropolitan to act on the matter himself and to order an investigation within three days, the Standing Holy Synod shall be able to take charge of the matter only as an exceptional step and to order an investigation by assigning one of Its Secretaries to act as Investigator. If the result of the investigation be unfavourable for the Clergyman or the Monk, the file of the pleadings shall be referred to the relevant Metropolitan, and in his absence to the Vicar Episcopal, who must introduce the case with no delay to the relevant ecclesiastical court, the procedure thenceforth being observed as provided by law.

(b) The two acting assistant-judge Presbyters in Episcopal Courts will have a decisive voting right and not merely a consultative opinion, as has been the case so far, with a view to reinforcing the confidence of the clergy and of the people in ecclesiastical justice and in its ministers.

Β.
1. As regards the Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica, that he be summoned to appear in an audition before the Standing Holy Synod on February 4, 2005, at 9h30 am, so that the Standing Holy Synod may decide whether para. 8 of Article 34 of Law 590/77 (Article 15, Law 1351/83) is applicable in this case.

According to this law, “The Standing Holy Synod, upon a substantiated proposal of Its President, may, by a decision which shall be published in the Government Gazette, proceed to a temporary suspension of a Metropolitan and place him at the disposal of the Church of Greece for a period of six months, if there be concurrent reasons regarding his person, the interest of the Church, public order or social peace. The decision shall be issued following an audition of the Metropolitan. A Vicar Episcopal shall be designated in the Metropolitanate according to Article 23, para. 1 and, if the suspended Metropolitan be also a Member of the Synod, he shall be replaced according to Article 8, para. 2 of the present law. Metropolitans who are thus placed at the disposal of the Church shall not participate in a Synod of the Hierarchy nor shall they be invited as Synodal Metropolitans and shall receive two thirds of the emoluments of a Metropolitan on active service. Following the six-month period of suspension the Standing Holy Synod may decide his definitive removal from the Metropolitan Throne”.

2. As regards the Archimandrite Iakovos Ghiossakis, that the Holy Synod demand and require of the Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica in writing that he dismiss the former within the day by virtue of the provisions of Article 102 of Law 5383/1932 “On Ecclesiastical Courts and the Procedure before Them” and that he prosecute him.

3. As regards the plea of incompetence submitted through the Holy Metropolitanate of Attica by Iakovos Ghiossakis, accused of defamation of the Most Rev. Metropolitan Ghermanos of Eleia, against the aforementioned Hierarch’s competence to move the disciplinary action against him, that the plea be unanimously rejected and that the investigation begun by the Most Rev. Metropolitan Ghermanos of Eleia be continued.

C.
1. As regards the Most Rev. Metropolitan Theokletos of Thessaliotis and Phanariofersala, who, by his letter no. 97/28.1.2005 to the Holy Synod, “placed himself at the disposal of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy as the supreme Collective Body of Administration of the Church of Greece, requesting and requiring that It act immediately, by any means It may deem appropriate, on the investigation of the truth of the slanders levelled against him”, and the charges formulated against him by the dethroned former Metropolitan Konstantinos of Thessaliotis and Phanariofesala, who still remains under the penalty of excommunication, the Holy Synod deemed that the judicial investigation of these charges is incumbent upon the exclusive competence of the Standing Holy Synod according to the law and not of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy. On these grounds It decided that the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy be not convoked but, in accordance with Article 143 of Law 5383/1932, that the Most Rev. Metropolitan Theokletos of Thessaliotis and Phanariofersala be asked, at a first stage and by Tuesday, February 8, 2005, to provide explanation in writing regarding the charges formulated against him, so that, after the submission of the explanation, the Standing Holy Synod may decide on the matter.

D. That the Standing Holy Synod, willing to shed abundant light on rumours and any other information injuring the honour and the reputation of Clergymen of our Church, invite those faithful who possess legal evidence for their accusation responsibly to depose it to the competent Ecclesiastical Bodies, thus contributing to the right manner of dealing with eventual aberrations which harm the authority of the Church.

Ε. That the Holy Synod express Its deep awareness of the seriousness of the circumstances under which our Church is found, and Its grief on the unfavourable climate that has been created against the Church because of the acts of certain of Her servants. Moreover, it grieves It to see that these acts have given rise to various attacks against the Church, which all of us must protect. In the months to come, the Greek Clergy and the faithful people will decipher the truth, which is that, except for certain incidents of proven guilt, which are already smitten, the Church continues to be a power of Hellenism and the repose of the people’s soul and that the excessive agitation that has been caused serves other purposes, all of which converge on the degradation of this martyred Church. It is obvious that far above the persons there is the institution. And the theandric organisation of the Church as a sacred institution is not threatened by the errors of Her servants. These come and go but She emerges from the ordeals with flying colours and remains for ever and ever.


From the Press Office of the Holy Synod


[Transl. by Dr Nikolaos C. Petropoulos,
M.St., D.Phil. (Oxon.)]

Francisco, Again, I don't think this news is approprite for the Lenten season...and I would say the same thing if you shared articles that shared scandals from the Roman Catholic Church or from the Lutherans or Baptists. I simply think at a time of year when the principal Lenten prayer is: ...grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters---it seems VERY inappropriate.

Remember Francisco: The Church is the 'home of sinners'...because Our Lord Himself tells us, "I came NOT for those who are well, but for sinners." Therefore, whenever we expect to find pure innocence...we are going to be disappointed. The Church is a hospital for the ill and the broken---NOT a place for the perfect!

If the Church of Greece...or the Church of Boston has problems---then OUR response should be to increase our prayers for those Churches...not help spread the word. The word is suppose to be GOOD NEWS...especially during this season: CHRIST SUFFERED AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD FOR OUR SALVATION!---because of THIS we have hope...and we have salvation.

In Christ Jesus Our Lord,
+Fr. Gregory

This all sounds good, and in essence I agree, but with some qualifications. I have long said that we Christians are often gentle as doves, but we really need to work on the wise as serpents part. IIRC, burying our heads in the sand was what allowed all the sex scandals in the Church to continue unchecked for many years. Yes, we are all sinners, but we need to keep our eyes open, just the same.

I agree, but personally, I choose to keep those eyes open and lifted UP...as I age, I find I have little time to 'wollow' in the mire that often surrounds much of human 'news' and life. I'd rather feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit those who are sick and in prison---I simply don't have the time anymore to waste. My time is short...and I personally need not to waste it on such things...as what's going on in the Church of Greece or Boston---too busy here.

In the Lord Jesus,
+Fr. Gregory

Matthew 23:13-29

hypocrites! who is a hypocrite? (a person who pretends to be what she or he is not; who pretends to be better than she or he is, or to be pious, virtuous, etc. without really being so. -- Webster !!)

"Am I not one?" is a question a true Christian has to ask himself once in a while.
it is not a secret that the best way to bring people to the church is to show Christ by our actions to them, when they see Christ among us they will want Him.
It is also true that people will not want to join the church when they see "the little demons" - hypocrisy - in the church. Thus, we as Christians are held risponcible for each and evry soul infront of our Father in the Heavens.
I will be asked "Where is thy brother?" - so will all Christians.

I am not a priest, a bishope or any of those ranks, but i am held just as risponcible.
I have my own little demons which i am trying to hunt down and kill.

May the Lord help me hunt them down,
so i will be able to say once "here is he Lord, holding my hand."


God have mercy,
a small sheep

Eli B., I think you have touched on something very important. When we ordinary people sin it is bad enough. When Church leaders sin, it causes grave scandal to others and perhaps destroys any chance of converting those who are scandalized.

Press Bulletin of the Holy Synod


The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy supports the Archbishop

Athens, February 18, 2005


The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece convened on February 18, 2005, in an extraordinary session under the presidency of His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, in the Meeting Hall of the Holy Synod.

Before the Session, a Divine Liturgy of Hierarchs was performed in the Catholicon of the Petrakis Holy Monastery, His Rev. Varnavas, Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, officiating.

At ca. 9 a.m., the Service for the beginning of the proceedings of the Holy Synod was chanted in the great Meeting Hall of the Holy Synod. After the Catalogue of participating Hierarchs was read out, the absence of the following Most Rev. Metropolitans was noted: Theokletos of Aitolia and Akarnania, Nikephoros of Lefkas and Ithaca, Theophilos of Gortys and Megalopolis, and Vartholomeos of Megara and Salamis.

Subsequently, the Press Committee was constituted by the Most Rev. Metropolitans Anthimos of Thessaloniki, Nikolaos of Phthiotis and Dorotheos of Syros.

Thereafter, His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, presented before the Hierarchy his proposals regarding the present crisis in the Church and his suggestions for dealing with it. These proposals were distributed to all Members of the Hierarchy and to the representatives of the Media.

Next, the following Most Rev. Metropolitans spoke of the aforementioned proposals: Kallinikos of Piraeus, Ambrosios of Kalavryta, Prokopios of Philippoi, Spyridon of Cephallonia, Theokletos of Ioannina, Chryssostomos of Peristerion, Spyridon of Langadas, Panteleimon of Xanthi, Anthimos of Thessaloniki, Titos of Paramythia, Chryssostomos of Zakynthos, Ierotheos of Nafpaktos, Ieronymos of Thebes, Ignatios of Demetrias, Nikolaos of Phthiotis, Theologos of Serrai and Germanos of Eleia.

Due to the criticism expressed by the Most Rev. Germanos, Metropolitan of Eleia, on statements and acts of His Beatitude the President, and answered by His Beatitude, a moment of tension was created and the tension increased when the Most Rev. Metropolitan of Eleia raised an issue and tabled a motion that His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, resign. At this point, His Beatitude regarded the motion as a personal issue and immediately put it to an open vote, the result of which was: out of 75 Metropolitans present, 67 voted for the rejection of the motion of His Rev. Metropolitan Germanos of Eleia, 4 Hierarchs abstained, 2 cast blank votes and 1 voted for the adoption of the motion.

The ensuing discussion was constructive and led to the decision of the Hierarchy unanimously to approve, at a first reading, the proposals submitted by His Beatitude the President for dealing with the current ecclesiastical crisis. These proposals will be discussed more in detail at a second reading in tomorrow’s Session and the definitive approval of them will be requested.

At the end of the Session His Beatitude the President announced to the Synod of the Hierarchy the end of the judicial affair regarding the finances of the Church, which began in 1996 and resulted in the acquittal of the Hierarchs and other clergymen involved both by the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece (October 1998) and by civil courts, which issued acquitting orders and decisions in their favour.


The Press Committee of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy


[Transl. by Dr N. C. Petropoulos,
M.St., D.Phil. (Oxon.)]

Fron Kathimerini (http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100009_21/02/2005_53211)

Bishops approve proposed reform


MARIA MAROYIANNI/ANA
The new bishop of Patras, Chrysostomos (c), was enthroned yesterday in Athens. Archbishop Christodoulos said bishops must adopt less ostentatious dress: �For although our robes are not golden, people don�t know that.�

The scandal-ridden Church of Greece decided on Saturday to enlist Greece�s top judges in investigating future allegations of misconduct among senior churchmen, as bishops approved reforms meant to ease the Church out of one of the worst crises of recent years.

The plenary session of the Hierarchy approved a series of measures proposed by Archbishop Christodoulos, including the formation of a council of judges, chaired by the head of the Church, that will look into charges concerning bishops and suggest action to the Church ruling body, the Holy Synod. Members of the council, which must be approved by the government, will include one deputy president each from the Supreme Court, the Council of State, the State Audit Council and the State Legal Council. Among other measures, bishops agreed to table annual asset and funds-source declarations, to seek state monitoring of Church finances, and to wear less ostentatious robes.

The Church has been rocked by allegations that top clerics were involved in trial-fixing, corruption and sex scandals. This forced a pledge to cleanse the institution from Christodoulos, who presented his proposals on Friday. At the same time, the Church leader, who has also come under criticism for his links with a convicted drug dealer on the run from Interpol, easily weathered a surprise no-confidence vote.

Dear Francisco,

Why do you persist in this?

The ugliness of the pedophile scandal in the Latin Church here in the U.S. has once again been rearing its head in the media.

However, the churches are still full and the faithful are still being ministered to.

I don't say we just brush it all aside, but let's keep it all in perspective. We are all sinners, and the fact that we sin does not excuse us from our actions. Those who are guilty of misdeeds will be judged one way or another.

This IS the Lenten season, let us focus on our own shortcomings, draw the line in the sand, and then decide if we should cast stones or not.

Let us pray for our clergy who go unnoticed every day while bringing the Gospel to us.

In Christ, Bill

Dear Francisco, From Metropolitan Vlachos:

The Difference Between Orthodox Spirituality and Other Traditions: The Church as Hospital


A fundamental teaching of the Holy Fathers is that the Church is a "Hospital" which cures the wounded man. In many passages of Holy Scripture such language is used. One such passage is that of the parable of the Good Samaritan: "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion . So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you" (Luke 10:33-35).

In this parable, the Samaritan represents Christ who cured the wounded man and led him to the Inn, that is to the "Hospital" which is the Church. It is evident here that Christ is presented as the Healer, the physician who cures man's maladies; and the Church as the true Hospital. It is very characteristic that Saint John Chrysostom, analysing this parable, presents these truths emphasised above.

Man's life "in Paradise" was reduced to a life governed by the devil and his wiles. "And fell among thieves," that is in the hands of the devil and of all the hostile powers. The wounds man suffered are the various sins, as the prophet David says: "my wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness" (Psalm 37). For "every sin causes a bruise and a wound." The Samaritan is Christ Himself who descended to earth from Heaven in order to cure the wounded man. He used oil and wine to "treat" the wounds; in other words, by "mingling His blood with the Holy Spirit, he brought man to life." According to another interpretation, oil corresponds to the comforting word and wine to the harsh word. Mingled together they have the power to unify the scattered mind. "He set him in His own beast," that is He assumed human flesh on "the shoulders" of His divinity and ascended incarnate to His Father in Heaven.

Then the Good Samaritan, i.e. Christ, took man to the grand, wondrous and spacious inn - to the Church. And He handed man over to the innkeeper, who is the Apostle Paul, and through the Apostle Paul to all bishops and priests, saying: "Take care of the Gentile people, whom I have handed over to you in the Church. They suffer illness wounded by sin, so cure them, using as remedies the words of the Prophets and the teaching of the Gospel; make them healthy through the admonitions and comforting word of the Old and New Testaments." Thus, according to Saint Chrysostom, Paul is he who maintains the Churches of God, "curing all people by his spiritual admonitions and offering to each one of them what they really need."

The Church is NOT ever a place for the 'perfecti' or those who are "without sin," quite the opposite, it is the HOME OF SINNERS !

In His great mercy & love for us all,
+Fr. Gregory

I don't think that Francisco means any harm in this. Francisco is a Catholic Spaniard who is studying in Greece, and has lived there for a few years now.

I suppose that he is posting these because all of this is very big and breaking news where he is living right now...and he wishes to share it with us.
**************************************************
Francisco,

Perhaps it would be less offensive to some people on this board if you just linked us to the 'kathimerini' articles on line? ( www.ekathimerini.com [ekathimerini.com] )

Filika,
kai me agapi en Hristo,
Alice

I wouldn't say it is offensive to the "board," just to a couple of individuals who always have the option of not reading it, since they apparently have given up worldly news for Lent. That's fine, if they so choose, and I am not implying that there is anything wrong with it. I suspect this particular news is of more interest to Greek Orthodox Christians than to many in the other Eastern Churches. It does say, on the main page. I guess this would qualify as current news about the Church. Alice, you are right to recommend kathimerini, since it's an excellent news source that I, too, enjoy reading.

Dear Charles,

You are right. This is forum is titled 'Church News' and does serve a purpose.

While it may be of more interest to those who are in the Greek Orthodox Church, what affects one particular Church also affects all other Orthodox-- and Roman and Byzantine Catholics as well--for one one part of the Body suffers, all other parts suffer too.

I remember when the Catholic scandals broke out, some were discussing it at Bible Study, and my priest commented that we should pray for ALL priests, Catholic and Orthodox...because it is a very serious and often times difficult calling.

In Christ,
Alice

I agree, Alice. The Body of Christ has been crucified again and again in recent times. I suspect that many folks read about these things and don't distinguish what Church the scandals came from, but instead think all Churches are bad. As you know, we librarians have problems with censorship. The topic on this thread is really clear and, consequently, easily avoided by those who may be offended. I think you are correct in your earlier statement that this particular scandal is big news to Greece and Francisco.

My dear friends,

I understand that this is a free Church News forum, where people interchange information about different current ecclesiastical issues. I do much respect the opinion of those who consider that this news are not approprite for the Lenten (Reformed Julian Calendar Paschalion) or Triodion (Julian Calendar Paschalion) season althought I do not agree with them. I also respect the oponion of those who consider that talking about Church scandals is not good for the Church itself althought I personally consider that talking about Church internal problems can help the Church to find, always with the help of God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the solution to these problems. We Christians are called from the moment of our baptism to be witness of the risen Lord in the World, these scandals, as well as the even bigger scandal of our divisions, do not help the Church to fulfill the purpose our Lord Jesus Christ did institute it that is nothing but to be witness of the Truth and to offer the Salvation to the whole human kind. The reason that moved me to create this topic is my love for the Chuch of Christ, the Spotless Bride of Christ, and particularly my love for my Greek Orthodox brothers and sisters. So if you and the moderator agree I will continue informing about Greek Orthodox Church actuality without adding personal commentaries.

Yours in Christ,

Francisco