Synodal/Conciliar Encyclical on Modern WO "Saints"

[romios1]

Hello,
I'm a humble man, hearing many accounts even amongst the GOC/True Orthodox brethren some recognizing these WO "Saints" such as Paisios, Ephraim, Joseph and Porphyrios and others.
Is there any Encyclical from our Genuine Churches about this phenomenon?
Anything from Metropolitan Demetrius in North America or the Mother Church forbidden the veneration of these men?
I'm sorry if i posted this in the wrong place.
Thank you.

[eish]

I do not have a synodal document, I'm afraid. Forgive the long reply but I do think I can demonstrate that one is not required because the synod already acts on the presupposition that WO elders are not saints, rendering any encyclical a mere formality. This is probably not what you wanted; you may want a document to quote at those who err. At least I can offer some canons.

In one line, a specific ban on veneration is not required per the canons which already forbid the veneration of the “saints” of heretics. (Cf. C. IX, XXXIV of Laodicea.) This presupposes that we are talking about real WO and not those falsely claimed by them.

“extra Ecclesiam nulla salus”

Those who are outside the Church--hence, all who persist in heretical bodies even if they hold a position of personal disagreement with the official doctrines--cannot be considered saints. Keep in mind also that a new anathema does not need to be announced every time there is another elder. If your synod has anathematised the state churches, they have anathematised the elders of those state churches at least since that time. It makes sense to me that as we do not need a new ban with every “saint” of the pope, nor with those of the Uniates who joined the pope a few centuries ago, neither do we need a new ban with those of the Uniates who joined him in the last century. I also see it as an implicit condemnation of the veneration of an elder, when the bishops call him out for false prophecy, delusion, heresy, etc. Sure, it does not contain those explicit words, but it must logically follow from such a condemnation that we are not to venerate such an elder.

However, regarding many of these recent elders claimed as WO saints their status as WO members is disputed. There seems to be a general consensus that Elder Ephraim lied about the status of Elder Joseph. You can find details here on the café. The latter is widely but not universally regarded as a TO saint and other disciples of his have told a different story from Elder Ephraim. There are also those from the transitional period, where it is a little more difficult to determine which side someone had joined because the structures were still forming and because information was not flowing freely. (E.g. Abp. Hilarion Troitsky, who is recognised by the GOC-K but not by everyone, or the Jerusalem Patriarchate before they officially sided with the New Calendarists.) Some, such as Elder Justin Popović, appear to have been under the patriarchates until they figured out what was going on and ceased commemoration.

Elders Paisios, Ephraim (of Arizona), Porphyrios, Sophrony, etc. are generally accepted as WO and not real saints by most. Are you asking about the GOC-K specifically, or is this a broad question on synods considering themselves True Orthodox? There have been a number of statements from the abbot of Esphigmenou regarding Elder Paisios, quoted by @Unseen.Warfare under the Pseudo Saints thread. However, Esphigmenou is no longer in communion with the GOC-K as I understand.

Metropolitan Demetrios has posted a video about Elder Ephraim's book on Elder Joseph on his YT channel. It addresses some of the problems with the book but does not go into the disputes.

https://youtu.be/5rDMZyVC2R0

https://web.archive.org/web/20240815052 ... of-paisios

https://trueorthodox.eu/my-own-encounte ... r-paisios/

[Suaidan]

There's one from GOC-K:
https://hotca.org/documents/506-concern ... udo-saints

Protocol no. γ - 1830 .

In Athens, Nov. 23/Dec. 6, 2013

Communiqué

To all clergy and laity

Beloved children of the Church of Christ,

The Holy Synod of the G.O.C., during its meeting on October 10/23 2013, discussed the issue of the pseudo-saints who are alleged to be Saints by the Ecumenists, and the danger of deceiving the faithful through their systematic propaganda. For this reason we call this to the attention of all clergy and laity of the non-innovating Church, that they not fall victim to this propaganda. No one who died in schism, communing with the heresy of Ecumenism may be honored as a saint by the Church. They do not fulfill the criteria of Sainthood which the Church of Christ has always had.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has ceased to be the beacon of Orthodoxy, continually proclaims many new-found elders as saints, in order to fortify the delusion that the communicants of Ecumenism can also be sanctified, and can become examples to follow. From this delusion, it would then follow that there is no reason for those who object to the heresy of Ecumenism to wall themselves off from it. In their Synodal proclamations, the Ecumenists mix the pseudo-saints of recent years with true saints of the past centuries, such as St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain and St. Cosmas of Aetolia, so that this perception may be believed without question. We however, rightly differentiate the good from the evil; on the one hand we accept the older saints as truly being saints – and that, without regard to Patriarchal decisions – and on the other hand, we reject the new-found elders. We hope that these new-found elders returned to Holy Tradition some time before their death, but they are certainly not examples for the faithful to imitate.

This also holds true for those new-found elders proclaimed as “saints” by the other Patriarchates who have been equally vitiated by the Ecumenistic delusion or by Sergianism, such as the Patriarchate of Moscow. Therefore pilgrimages and parish excursions to reverence such new-found pseudo-saints are not permitted neither is honoring them individually as real saints, nor painting icons, nor serving the divine services for them.

Holy figures have existed in recent decades, but those who were sanctified belonged to the ranks of those who struggled against the innovation of the Papal calendar and the heresy of Ecumenism. There will soon be a Synodal decision of the Church concerning them.

Having said that, we pray that you pass the remainder of the time of the Nativity fast in compunction and prayer.

By the mandate of the Holy Synod

The Chief-Secretary

† Photios of Marathon

[Suaidan]

For the record, I keep hearing from ecumenists about "True Orthodox" who recognize these elders as saints, and for some reason I've never communicated with one. Who are these people and are they real?

[Stylite Nous]

St. Nektarios Press sold Elder Paisios related stuff. does that count? (they are also pretty much out of business at this point)

Though, the HOCNA synod definitely doesn't agree with that. I think it's more of a case of a shop being pragmatic and so having a catalog that does not 100% line up with True Orthodoxy.

[Suaidan]

St. Nektarios Press sold Elder Paisios related stuff. does that count? (they are also pretty much out of business at this point)

Though, the HOCNA synod definitely doesn't agree with that. I think it's more of a case of a shop being pragmatic and so having a catalog that does not 100% line up with True Orthodoxy.

No idea. I hope their shop comes back though.