The Saint Euphrosynos Cafe

Why Constantine do you uphold Bishop Matthew's legacy?

You dispute many of the historical accounts given by the Website however you did not dispute his paralyzation of his right side including the right hand needed to even cross oneself. Do you find it puzzeling that if Bishop Matthew was canonical why then would the Lord have allowed such a peculiar disability? To me that is a sure sign of Divine Providence that he could not have use of his right hand. It is also Divine Providence that NOT ONE Bishop either within Greece OR outside of Greece in the year 1948 could celebrate the Holy Mystery of Consecration with him.

There was a mention of St. Maximus being the sole Orthodox in his time however he was a humble monk and not a Bishop willing to beget a following after himself. There were canonical/graced bishops at that time and if St. Maximus prayed for the knowledge he would have known who they were. From what it appears Bishop Matthew was not humble enough to wait and join himself with canonical bishops. Humility and patience are virtues that Orthodox Christians are to strive for not dismiss.

Now about the Canonical Status of Greek Bishops in 1935. I think the answer lies on a humble Greek Priest.
His name is St. Nicholas Planas:
http://www.roca.org/OA/56/56e.htm

"How did Papa-Nicholas deal with these apocalyptic events and influences?

When one of his Readers asked him about the controversial Calendar reform, Papa Nicholas replied, "From conviction, the Old, and from obligation, the New!" In other words, he continued to serve according to the Old Calendar--even when this necessitated serving secretly at night, but he did not leave the New Calendar bishops who had enacted this unlawful change. To the "ecclesiastical politics" of his day he reacted with his characteristic patience, meekness, and with obedience wherever possible without compromising the principles of traditional Orthodoxy.

When his secret serving according to the Old Calendar was discovered he was often reprimanded by the higher authorities in the Church. He always appeared when summoned and took his dressing-down without self-justification, disarming his accusers with his childlike simplicity and forthrightness. His intent was to remain true to his conscience; [b]he did not try to build up a following or in any way stir up the faithful over the issue of the Calendar,[/b] although he blessed others to follow his example and to work for the formal reinstatement of the Old Calendar. Over and ever he said to everyone, "Whatever has been done uncanonically cannot stand--it will fall."

This I believe as well. Breaking sacred Apostolic Canons does not make a wrong, right. The Lord Jesus Christ, in His way, will correct the unjust "reforms" and "reformers", we just have to follow Him.

Peace Constantine.

These debates will go on forever in the Orthodox fold because nobody recognizes the authority of the next person. There is no authority in Orthodoxy. It is made-up by men.

One email I recently got stated:

"I belong to an Orthodox Church which clings to the Fathers and the Canons."

MY RESPONSE: Do you mean THE Orthodox Church? There is no such a thing as "an" Orthodox Church. He can't even tell me with certainty and authority where the Orthodox Church is.

Excuse me but Saint Maximus never claimed to be the only Orthodox left. Maximus recognized the authority and Orthodoxy of Rome at that time. Even in Orthodox eyes, Rome was fully Orthodox at that time.

You people follow ambiguous isolated statements and actions from individuals who have absolutely no authority to decide these issues. The Church was never built on Maximus. Christ never gave the keys of authority to Justin Popovitch, Seraphim Rose, Kalomiros, or Mark of Epheses.

Look at what Orthodox creates? Look at the Gregory's of Colorado? How long will it take you people to arise out of your darkness and see there is something seriously wrong with this system?

We can't penetrate your minds because everything that goes against you is a "demonic attack." This is how they have indoctrinated you to believe in order to justify schism and disobedience.

The Church should be easy for everyone to find. Not hidden somewhere on a remote Island in Greece or wherever under a non-canonical bishop who recognizes no authority other than his own.

Orthodox people build their dogmas on statements and actions of "saints" or elders from centuries ago who prophesied that this is the way it would be in the last days. Even if they were right, it doesn't justify it. It doesnt justify not doing anything to repair the damages. Christianity is built on REAL dogmas. Not on elders and saints and their actions and opinions.

Kosmas, can you please answer my question, In 1948,besides Bishop Matthew, can you name me ONE just ONE, other bishop in Greece that believed the apostloc succession of the GOC should continue or was available to assist?

however you did not dispute his paralyzation of his right side including the right hand needed to even cross oneself.

As this is reported on Gregory's website, I am quite sure this is more slanderous garbage, if you like we can go through his whole website and prove his lies.

Do you find it puzzeling that if Bishop Matthew was canonical why then would the Lord have allowed such a peculiar disability?

He didn't, see above.

 From what it appears Bishop Matthew was not humble enough to wait and join himself with canonical bishops. Humility and patience are virtues that Orthodox Christians are to strive for not dismiss. 

Again I ask you,In 1948,besides Bishop Matthew, can you name me ONE just ONE, other bishop in Greece that believed the apostloc succession of the GOC should continue or was available to assist?

To the "ecclesiastical politics" of his day he reacted with his characteristic patience, meekness, and with obedience wherever possible without compromising the principles of traditional Orthodoxy.

And what bishop did he commemorate, a priest draws his grace from his Bishop, so I guess he believed their was grace in the new calendar, I guess he celebrated the Birth of Christ twice, and all the feast days twice. Christ said 'Let your no be no and your yes be yes, anything else is from the evil one'

Breaking sacred Apostolic Canons does not make a wrong, right

.

Papa Nicholas's bishop was a new calendarist, was he not? But in secret from his nc bishop, he served on the Old calendar.

“Do not forget that ‘he who acts in secret from his bishops serves the devil’
-St. Ignatius the Godbearer

Constantine

Poor confused Incognito 1583. Orthodoxy is not a religion it is the true faith in the One True God. You trust in your mind, your rationale, to discern the truth, but you seem to have little real faith in anything. You also seem to have too much idle time to write all this volume of posts, which we are to all take "with a grain of salt". I do take them with a grain of salt because it is obvious your mind has been poisoned from the beginning by your teachers.

Take a look at what St. Paul says in his second epistle to St. Timothy:

"Chapter 3 - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

There is One God and One Holy Church and know where it is, but it is not found in the rational way you are searching, but rather through faith. It is clear for everyone to see, but then, some have eyes and see not and some have ears and see not. "For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." But you, Incognito 1583, who can't even confess your baptismal name before us, have closed your eyes to the Holy Church, indeed you have called her a schism and a bunch of cultists. This poison is from your father who has taught you these things. You have soaked up everything he said to you and spew it back out as if it were the truth and yet you do not believe he is a true bishop. Again, your trust in your own fallen, unenlightened mind has brought you to this confused and faithless state.I am truly sad for you.

PS. Rome is a city, buildings don't decide anything for the Church.