"I am the door. By me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture." - John 10:9 At every parish where I have had the pleasure of attending services, there is always a small group of people who find their way all the way up to the church building but don't actually attend services. At one parish it was a group of male gypsies who talked on cellphones or smoked cigarettes. At another it was a few Protestant husbands who, though they never attended services, opened the parish doors for people as they filed in. At yet another parish the men stood in the narthex and chatted until it was time to receive and then got in line. Latin or Greek Catholic, Eastern or Oriental Orthodox I see the same small throng of men standing next to the front door, but not standing, sitting, or kneeling amongst the people. If it were me (and I can only speak for myself here) this option would be an unsavory one. The boredom would be immediate. The anxiety of som...
So on the surface a rogue act by a "progressive/modern" man whose belief/spirituality is in a *reformation* mode. Some will put forth the conspiracy that this (i.e. the ignorance of Met. Antonios) is just the surface, and I think there is some truth in such thoughts in that the formalities can be a too easy setup and then coverup for such innovative men and acts.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, would not any cleric/hierarch/lay leader in Greece not be aware of GOA's - her leadership and membership - secular/progressive outlook and ontology and thus not be more diligent about such requests?
Ouch....
ReplyDeleteI take it most of the children on the territory of his diocese are unbaptized then? 'Cause if we're being strict about things, most Orthodox are nominal at best and usually functional atheists. If we follow his strict line of thought, their numerous failings disqualify their children from being baptized since the Church can't reasonably expect them to be properly raised in the Orthodox Faith...
ReplyDeleteApparently the country of Greece does not allow same-sex couples to adopt children. So, admittedly yes, this would be alarming for the Church of Greece that the baptisms took place in Greece. I assume that it took place there at the Bousis family's request.
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely a Bousis family event though. The uncle is Orthodox and listed as godparent. The grandparents are there. I don't think Archbishop Elpidophorus can properly be accused of lying. However, I can also understand why the local bishop is upset, and I'm not sure why Archbishop Elpidophorus was not more sensitive to the uproar this would cause.