Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Thank you to Phyllis for her encouraging words this Bright Week.  For all those who have been harmed and hurt by this charlatan with his messianic complex who in actuality has abandoned his wife young daughter and elderly mother. He preys on sentimentality of those who came here a generation or two ago who had to leave their families behind to make a way to learn a foreign language and to save pennies so the day would arrive that all would be reunited in the land of opportunity.  This man chooses to play the monastic as he walks about his his aging harem unadorned by his wedding ring.  If it looks, walks, and sounds like a duck--it's a duck.
The semblance of a thing is not the actuality. Father Gregory has since framed his behavior last night at the banquet and concert of Byzantine chant as an enlightenment. "I saw I light which told me to stop the way I was and to ask for forgiveness". Who would take offense with forgiving? But this was only a diversion without any semblance of a penitent man. Fr. Gregory's behavior exacts this great divide by continuing with his counterfeit demeanor. How can I conclude thus about intention because of his conduct.  He violated boundaries and  demanded in an obtrusive demeanor and manner insensitive to those who wanted a delightful evening with family and friends. He chose to make the evening about himself and appearances. Obviously such are not well suited or conducive to such dialogue and anyone with any semblance self control or common sense would consider such inappropriate timing. Common decency and decorum requires that we make amends and ask for forgiveness (our need) when to do so will not hurt or jeopardize the other. Once again he demonstrates that his own self interest and desire to rid himself of perceived ridicule drive his decision making not the needs of others. He continues to want to redraw new lines in the sand with restart after continued false starts on his part. Only yesterday just hours before were his supporters showing up at homes trying to convince others of is blameless hands. To fain regret for offenses and to regret getting caught are very different. Some things are counterfeit and we know this because it is tested against the gold standard.

To be clear Father Gregory was not removed from serving the Metropolis because of ill words or bad tempers. The Metropolis conducted its own internal investigations which brought about considerable and sufficient concern to stop Fr. Gregory from serving. Such decisions are not made based on personal affections or mere accusations but based on corroborated evidence,  anecdotal supports and pointed question and answers. 

Fr. Gregory admits to never willingly return to Greece to reunite with his wife or young daughter a choice which is not even an option. He is simply awaiting by his own admission to be released to go to another metropolis.

What is most important to understand is that he wishes to apologize to whom to me, my husband or family for what? For not connecting or for a misunderstanding? Apologies should reflect the infraction. He who secretly took advantage of the weak, the infirmed and the grieving should publicly write a letter stating that he lacked good judgment that is is never acceptable for a cleric to ask for money for his own pocket or to be included in wills of the wealthy widows.  

Begin by going to Vassili, Goldie, Mike, Marco and others and tell them you misled them you behaved without sound judgment and in your own self interest. Let's remember poor Betty who no longer walks the streets in her own neighborhood attend her own church or live in her own house. Let's not forget the widows who would were told to be good wives they must have trisagion weekly for two hundred dollars at the cemetery. Let's not forget the lies deception and schemes. Fr. will never come clean because he is already planning his next move, to the next parish with his horse and pony show where he will tell anyone who will give an ear that his family wants desperately to be with him and that his former parishes didn't support him. 

Monday, April 14, 2014

PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE DRAGGED OUT OF THE CHURCH ON PASCHA SUNDAY AND EXECUTED BY TURKS

In case you didn't know the doors at the top of my blog are the actual doors which remain closed. Posted from Death to the World

ON THIS DAY 193 YEARS AGO APRIL 11th THE PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE WAS DRAGGED OUT OF THE CHURCH ON PASCHA SUNDAY AND EXECUTED BY TURKS: 

Gregory V (Γρηγόριος Ε΄, born Georgios Angelopoulos) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1797 to 1798, from 1806 to 1808 and from 1818 to 1821. He was responsible for much restoration work to the Patriarchal Cathedral of St George, which had been badly damaged by fire in 1738. At the onset of the Greek War of Independence, as Ethnarch of the Orthodox Millet Gregory V was blamed by Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II for his inability to suppress the Greek uprising, even though he had actually condemned the Greek revolutionary activities. He was taken out of the Patriarchal Cathedral on Easter Sunday, 1821, directly after celebrating the solemn Easter Liturgy, and hanged (in full Patriarchal vestments) for three days from the main gate of the Patriarchate compound by order of the Sultan; his body was then taken down and delivered to a squad of Jews who dragged it through the streets and finally threw it into the Bosphorus. The body was late recovered by Greek sailors and was eventually enshrined in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. He is commemorated by the Orthodox Church as an Ethnomartyr (Greek: Εθνομάρτυρας). In his memory, the Saint Peter Gate, once the main gate of the Patriarchate compound, was welded shut in 1821 and has remained shut ever since.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Epitaphios Returns to Occupied Famgusta Cypus first time in 57 years!

Provided here from http://incyprus.philenews.com/ 
This Easter will be a special one at Ayios Georgios Exorinos church in occupied Famagusta with the Greek Orthodox faithful attending a Good Friday service there for the first time in 57 years.

Famagusta Mayor Alexis Galanos and the Turkish Cypriot “mayor” of the occupied city Octay Kayalp announced they had reached an agreement for it to go ahead.
The 15th century church is situated within the walled old city of Famagusta and bi-communal trouble led to it being abandoned in 1957 although once-monthly services have recently been arranged there.
In statements to the press, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides welcomed news of the Good Friday service, noting the government supported trust-building efforts.
Also speaking to the press, Famagusta and Constantia Bishop Vassilios said that he was pleased it was going ahead adding efforts were underway to get permission for a procession through some of the streets of the old city.
The Epitaphios is an icon, most often found as a large embroidered cloth venerated during Good Friday and Holy Saturday services. The Epitaphios is used on the last two days of the Holy Week in the Byzantine rite, as part of the ceremonies marking the death and resurrection of Christ. 
On the afternoon of Good Friday, the priest and deacon will place the Epitaphios on the Holy Table. An elaborately carved canopy, called a kouvouklion, stands over the Epitaphios making up part of a bier or catafalque representing the Tomb of Christ.
Made of elaborately carved wood, it is decorated with spring flowers. The faithful venerate it before the bier is carried around the church and sometimes through the surrounding streets as part of the ceremony.
The solemn procession with the Epitaphios, accompanied by bells ringing the funeral toll, commemorates the burial procession of Christ.

Ecumenical Patriarchate: Chief Secretariate of the Holy and Sacred Synod

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

COMMUNIQUE

With regard to the present prevailing situation in the Autocephalous Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has the following to declare:

The manner of the election that took place for the new Primate of the aforementioned Church following the resignation of Archbishop Christopher from his throne has not yet been recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other Orthodox Autocephalous Churches due to certified irregularities of a canonical nature pertaining to the election.

Consequently, any canonical action in the above named Church resulting from the composition of its Hierarchy after this election is considered uncanonical and is not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

As the Mother Church of the Autocephalous Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, the Ecumenical Patriarchate remains prepared to contribute to the canonical resolution of the unfortunate situation that has emerged there and invites all involved parties to continue their conversations with the Mother Church in order to discern the appropriate solution, while avoiding every activity that might further complicate the existing regrettable situation in that Church.

At the Ecumenical Patriarchate, on April 1st, 2014

From the Chief Secretariat
of the Holy and Sacred Synod