A Response to “On administering Holy Communion in a Time of a Plague”
This was sent to me and deserves a read. You can read the Calivas article here . We can all agree that we are living in unusual times. However, the nature and extent of the illness that we face, and the proper response of the Church, is a matter of much disagreement. We have seen various responses to the COVID-19 epidemic: calls to close our Churches as infectious vectors, and demands to open them as places of spiritual healing. Directives a) ordering the cessation of sacramental life as part of an effort to “flatten the curve,” and cries for access to the divine grace that flows forth from those very mysteries; b) calling for the restriction of “at-risk persons,” and serious questions about the validity of such controls, c) instructions to liturgists to wear personal protective equipment during the celebration of the divine services and the distribution of the holy Mysteries, and uncertainty about the fitness of such practices. Who has been championing what and on behalf of whom? The ...
Obviously Fr. Theodoros was not attempting to be specific in his definition. None of the anti-ecumenists take issue with Fr. Florovsky, since his brand of ecumenism was to reconcile everyone to the Tradition of the first millenium, IOW, Orthodoxy.
ReplyDeleteYou should really look up Fr. Theodoros' extensive theological formation, background, and experience before you conclude that he is "extremely unreasonable". He has written and spoken on all of the topics you question him on over the course of his career, which has spanned over 50 years. His comments proceed from a wealth of theological and personal experience. At the very least you ought to ask yourself "why" someone of his stature (a Professor and Patrologist at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for over 35 years) is making these statements before you dismiss them so flippantly.
ReplyDeleteTry searching, "Protopresbyter Theodoros Zisis (Biographical notes)" & "Fr. Theodoros Zisis' escape from the Babylonian Captivity of Ecumenism", if you are truly interested in beginning to consider more seriously who this man is and the possible reasons behind his comments. No one is saying you need to agree with him, but don't dismiss him by claiming he is uninformed or ignorant.
Just a suggestion.
"seems to lack even a basic familiarity"... Eye of the beholder, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, though, if Fr. Theodoros isn't holding the Hierarchy to just such a standard as you mention when he makes the statements he does (especially as they prepare for a Great & Holy Council). The difference being, his statements urge caution and being mindful of the Church's Tradition & saints, as opposed to what he sees as the opposite taking place (a view he has developed as result of his decades of personal involvement in the preparations & consultations).
Point taken about being careful when speaking publicly. To what degree, though, this applies as a criticism to Fr. Theodoros in this instance is a matter of personal opinion, I guess.
Thanks for your comments.