In the midst of researching ecumenism I discovered that Patriarch Athenorgas had to have a closed casket at his funeral, ostensibly because his body swelled up, would not fit into his clothes and turned black while giving off a stench, all immediately upon his last breath. (seems to be reliable info?) Also the Popes are burried in three caskets, whether for the same reason, I do not know. It all seems very poigant, however. Anyone ever heard of these things
Seraphim8
As regards the Popes, I know for sure that they are embalmed after their death (since the Middle Ages maybe). So there is no problem of stinking... You can see John-Paul II funeral on youtube and the body was exposed which means there was no problem with stinking (logical because he was embalmed).
What are your sources about Athenagoras?
Priidite, poklonimsja i pripadem ko Hristu.
Biographical Note
Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I (born Aristoklis Spyrou) was born on March 25, 1886 in the village Vasiliko, Pogoni (near Ioannina). Athenagoras was the son of a physician. He attended the seminary on the island of Halki, near Constantinople, and was ordained a deacon in 1910. He then moved to Athens, where he became a Mason, and he served there as archdeacon to the infamous Archbishop and fellow-Mason Meletios Metaxikis, who later became Patriarch, implemented the New Calendar and other innovations, and began the 'search for unity' with the heretics. Athenagoras was elevated to the Archbishopric of America in 1930 and continued in that office there until 1948 when he was elected Ecumenical Patriarch. In 1952, he issued an encyclical that officially approved Orthodox participation in the Ecumenical Movement and membership in the World Council of Churches, under certain conditions. In 1960, he organized the Pan-Orthodox Conference of Rhodes, which began the Ecumenists' ever-deepening relationship with the Monophysites. In 1964, he met with Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem to pray together with him. On December 7, 1965, he 'lifted' the anathemas of the Orthodox Church upon Papism with all its attendant heresies ('the Pope is Christ on earth', the Filioque, created grace, purgatory, etc.), and declared the unity of Orthodoxy and Papism. One of his canonists, Rev. Fr. Theodore T. Thalassinos, wrote at the time: "The removal of the mutual excommunications between the two Churches restores canonical relations between Rome and New Rome. This restoration is a canonical necessity, since there is no possible third situation between ecclesiastical communion and its negation: ecclesiastical excommunication"(Father Theodore T. Thalassinos , "The Goyan," Winter 1968 [quoted in Macris, Priest G.P., The Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Movement During the Period 1920-1969 (Seattle, WA: St. Nectarios Press, 1986, p. 137]). Athenagoras would later confirm this, stating, in fact, that he gives communion to Roman Catholics and Anglicans. Other heretical actions and words are detailed below. He died an unhappy death on July 17, 1972 in Constantinople, and, contrary to custom, but by necessity, was given a closed-coffin funeral.
INXC,
Seraphim
Two other sources that were not posted above;
A letter:Dear Seraphim,
God bless you!
Thank you for your e-mail.
The apparent answer is, since betraying the Faith is such a hateful sin, the so-called Orthodox bishops who do this have come to the measure of spiritual depravity, as the popes, and are therefore equal to their rewards. Since the popes decompose immediately after they take their last breath,(and have to buried in three coffins), so also do the so-called Orthodox patriarchs decompose immediately, and they have to be given a closed casket funeral. This only started with the onslaught of the heresy of Ecumenism.
I hope this helps!
Please contact us again if you want to go on the true path of life in Christ.
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+Archbishop Gregory
I also heard the testimomy of a priest monk about the condition of Athrnagoras's body at the time of death.
INXC,
SEraphim
