Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the EP

[Orthodox New England]

Orthodox zealots regard the pope as evil personified.

Am I the only one who thinks that this quote is funny?

[joasia]

Am I the only one who thinks that this quote is funny?

You don't realize what the pope is doing? Don't be fooled by his outwardly meek state. His agenda is very evil. He opposes everything that is the true faith...hence the reason why the papacy is still considered heretics to this day. The Orthodox Church still proclaims the papists in anathema, even until this passed Sunday.

Those who have fallen away from God are not with God.

[Joshua F]

Well, this certainly seems to be bad news. However, it remains to be seen what license the Patriarchate has to use force & coercion in evicting the monks.

[Orthodox New England]

You don't realize what the pope is doing? Don't be fooled by his outwardly meek state. His agenda is very evil. He opposes everything that is the true faith...hence the reason why the papacy is still considered heretics to this day. The Orthodox Church still proclaims the papists in anathema, even until this passed Sunday.

Those who have fallen away from God are not with God.

Dear Joasia,

I am not a "fan" of the pope and I am not saying that what the pope believes is not heresy.

I was just pointing out that the comment sounds "over-dramatic". In other words, is the pope wrong in his beliefs? Yes. Is he evil personified? No. It is just an over the top statement.

Gregory

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Gregory,

Yes, the press and their other enemies like to stigmatize the monks, and other Orthodox, with statements like this. For this reason I don't find it funny.

[Orthodox New England]

Gregory,

Yes, the press and their other enemies like to stigmatize the monks, and other Orthodox, with statements like this. For this reason I don't find it funny.

Dear OOD,

Using the word "funny" was a poor choice on my part. I should have used the word "ridiculous".

I found this "funny" simply because it never ceases to amaze me that the press and others can make blanket statements like this all the time.

From my reading of the article (and if someone else were reading it), it seems to imply that the monks REALLY view the pope as the personification of evil, rather than view him as a lost sheep who leads a heretical church and deserves our prays and pity.

It isn't fair to the monks. Unless, of course, I am wrong and the monks really have incredible ill will towards the pope. I hope that I am not wrong (and I don't think that I am). Calling the pope a heretic is fine. But calling him evil personified is not: he is still a child of God and he deserves our mercy.

I think Joasia and OOD took my first post the wrong way. I am sorry.

OOD, I know that you are in communion with these monks and it is painful for you to read these things about them.

Gregory

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Gregory,

Thanks for the clarification. "Ridiculous" I can agree on. Have you noticed they also like to say things like, "the monks won't acknowledge Bartholomew because he met with the pope or because he wants friendlier relations with the pope -- in other words, the monks aren't friendly. They won't state the real reason, although I don't blame the press; it always seems the press, even in the states, is not willing to get into to anything even remotley complicated since many people won't understand.

We were there in December and I can say these monks, as with most traditionalists, are not what people try to make them out to be. They don't hate the pope as a person, but they hate his beliefs. If anyone is being intolerant in a militant sort of way, its Bartholomew, the so-called "Green Patriarch".