You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.

“Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord.

- Jeremiah 7:8-10

There was a time when people really believed in God, but also demons and malign forces in general. A time when people feared the power of such fiendish beings and fought against them whenever possible. We see such a time in the Bible and in much of the life of the Church when it called out demons for what they were, destroyed statues and false gods, and spoke out against their lies for what they were.

Sadly, the time we live in now has turned religion into a form of currency. You're religious? I'm religious! Let's celebrate. And yet we know that the Hindu deities are demons. The church is clear there. A cleric should never walk into one of their blasphemous temples much less rejoice in the building of a new one.

Pluralism means we must respect the religions of others to the borders of permitting them to exist whether we deem them worthy or not. In the United States we could not level a synagogue or mosque and make room for a cathedral for example. What pluralism (in an Orthodox context) does not mean, is celebrating a new temple to the demons when we should lament the souls of those wayward people.

Who sees this picture and thinks "Orthodoxy is the way." Photo ops, as much as we try to say they are not, are signs of support and affirmation. That's why people print these things and put them on their walls. Please, for the love (not to mention mercy) of God, please stop.

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(orthochristian.com) - On October 4, 2023, a hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America participated in the “Interfaith Harmony Day” held at a large Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

The event, which gathered representatives from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Mormonism, Judaism, and Buddhism, was part of the celebrations that culminated in the consecration of the temple on October 8.

The site of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the overarching organization that includes the new temple, states that, “The gathering was a testament to the core principles of Akshardham, where unity emerges from diversity, and the common threads that bind humanity together are celebrated with reverence and appreciation.”

The same sentiment was expressed in a letter from Archbishop Elpidophoros, head of GOARCH, which was read by His Grace Bishop Athenagoras Nazianzos, Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, who personally attended the event.

Citing the holy Apostle Paul, Abp. Elpidophoros wrote: “In the boundless tapestry of creation, we are called to recognize and celebrate the diverse ways in which humanity seeks to connect with the divine. As Orthodox Christians, we are continually reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words, for from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.”

The Archbishop also offered his blessing to all the Hindu community’s endeavors.

Read the full address presented by Bp. Athenagoras:

Distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, brothers and sisters, with profound joy and a heart filled with gratitude, I extend my warmest congratulations on the momentous occasion of the grand opening of the BAPS Akshardham Mahamandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

In the boundless tapestry of creation, we are called to recognize and celebrate the diverse ways in which humanity seeks to connect with the divine. As Orthodox Christians, we are continually reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words, for from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.

Indeed, the beauty of faith and worship is a reflection of the divine’s infinite wisdom and love. This Hindu temple represents a sacred space where individuals gather in devotion, seeking spiritual fulfillment and understanding through prayer and worship and dialogue. As His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reminds us, we must have faith in dialogue itself. Any encounter and every dialogue require risk at both the individual and the community level. All dialogues are personal, since they involve the interaction of unique, irreplaceable persons, Christian or not, whose personhood is intricately connected to their individual social, cultural, and religious specificities.

 

In this spirit, we celebrate the unity and oneness that underline our shared human journey towards a world of peace and reconciliation. May the opening of this beautiful shrine be a beacon of joy, understanding, harmony within the Hindu community and beyond. May this unique peace of Indian art stand as a testament to our common humanity and may its sacred hall be a place where hearts are uplifted and souls find solace.

In the spirit of love and fellowship, I offer my congratulations and blessings for the success and flourishing of this sacred endeavor. May the grace of the Almighty guide and bless the members of this beautiful community, the hands of those who built this place, this temple, and the many visitors who search for consolation in their spiritual quests.

Prayerfully yours, Abp. Elpidophoros, the leader of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Thank you.

The same day, in a separate ceremony, “His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj” consecrated several statutes, so-called “divine murtis,” that are believed to be the embodiment of Hindu gods. Bp. Athenagoras did not participate in this ceremony.

In July, a Hindu temple opened in Rossford, Ohio, in what was formerly the St. George Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America’s Bulgarian Diocese of Toledo.