ATHONITE FATHERS CALL FOR REJECTION OF CRETAN COUNCIL AND CESSATION OF COMMEMORATION OF THE PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
An "Open Letter"
from Athonite Fathers to the Holy Community of the Holy Mountain of
Athos is calling for an immediate convocation of the governing body of
Mt. Athos in order to condemn the "false council" of Crete and cease the
comemoration of the Patriarch of Constantinople on Mt. Athos.
OVER 60 Hieromonk and monks, with a disciple
of Saint Paisios, Elder Gabriel of the Kelli of St. Christodoulos (Holy
Monastery of Koutloumosiou) at their head, have written an open letter
to the Holy Community of Mt. Athos calling upon the Abbots to reject the
Council in Crete and stating their intention to cease commemoration of
the Patriarch of Constantinople on account of his leadership in the
"false council" at which the pan-heresy of ecumenism was given a green
light and bolstered in word and deed.
The Athonite Fathers briefly list 12 points of
divergence of the Cretan Council from Orthodox Tradition and Faith,
promising to return in the near future with an extensive analysis of
council and texts in question. Referring to the controversial section 6
of the text "Relations of the Orthodox Church with the Rest of the
Christian World," the Athonites see this as acceptance of the
Papal-Latin parasynagogue as a "church". Furthermore, as they point out,
the text's positive estimation of the decisions of the Dialogue with
the Latins (especially the texts produced in Munich in 1982, Bari in
1987, New Valaam in 1988 and most particularly in Balamand in 1993)
signifies acceptance, on the part of those bishops who signed the text
in Crete, of the "ecclesial character, apostolic faith, authentic
mysteries and apostolic succession" of the "Papal heresy." "From this
alone," the Fathers write, "it is apparent that this Council has fallen
away from Orthodox Faith and Confession."
With regard to the role played by the
Patriarch of Constantinople in the promotion both of "the pan-heresy of
ecumenism and in particular of the false council of Crete," and the need
for the Athonite community to cease his commemoration "until such a
time" as the heresy is condemned, the Athonite Fathers write
characteristically:
"The Patriarch of Constantinople stands as the
chief inspirer and promoter of the Synodical text and as such for us
Athonite Fathers, but also for all Orthodox Christians, priests and
laymen, he has been shown to be, in word and deed, a Heresiarch, as once
was Arius, Nestorius, Bekko, etc., as distinguished clergy and
theologians have clearly demonstrated. This is the case not only on
account of [his promotion] of the pan-heresy of Ecumenism but also on
account of [his promotion] of the Pan-thriskeia [religious sycretism],
shown in and word and deed and through common prayer [with non-Christian
religious leaders]. He teaches strange dogmas, unorthodox and
anti-patristic, and thus, for this reason, according to the words of our
Lord, "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they known not the voice of strangers." (Jn. 10:1-5)
In conclusion, the Athonite Fathers write:
"Holy Fathers, the Orthodox Church and
Orthodox Christians have been declared undesirable and singled out for
harassment. Already at the heretical false council of Crete all those
Orthodox Christians who stand opposed to it and reject it, whether they
be bishops, priests, monks or laymen, were characterized as "heretics,"
"zealots," and "hyper-Orthodox." Will we allow this false
characterization to pass into the popular conscience? With much
humility, fear of God and love for our Orthodox Church we entreat you
and ask that we may all stand together so that a truly Holy and Great
Orthodox Council may be called in order to reject this false council [of
Crete].
Venerable and Respected Fathers of the Holy Community, Holy Abbots, 100 years of extreme oikonomia
and tolerance of the ecumenist, latinizing, unionist Patriarchs and
bishops has brought about a terrible erosion of Faith and fed heretical
deviations. The damage and corruption which has been brought about by
this falsely-called "oikonomia" in the
mindset of the Orthodox clergy and laity is of astounding proportions.
We entreat you once again: struggle to guard the Holy Deposit of our
Orthodox Church and Faith."
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