AN EXTRACT FROM THE GREEK NEWSPAPER "ELEFTHEROS", THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2003.
In an article entitled "Problems of the Orthodox Faith" an
article reports on certain un-Orthodox trends in World Orthodoxy. The
article brings up several issues among which are the following:
- Baptism is now done in a Latin manner. As it is now well
known, baptism in Greek Orthodox Churches is being done by sprinkling
rather than by complete immersion of the baby. In addition,
individuals who have been cut off from the church, or who are non-
Orthodox Christians or who are even of different religions are
allowed to be god-parents.An example is a recent baptism in
Constantinople with a god-parent was a Muslim. Professor Neoklh
Sarris reports on the event in the Publication "Parakatathki". He
says that the Professor of Economics at the University of Athens
Demetri Mardas and his wife Chara decided to have their child Michael
baptized at the Patriarchate by a Metropolitan of the Patriarchate.
Michael had two (2) God-parents the "Greek" Panagiotes
Koutsiko and the Turkish one Ebrou Sanver. After the baptism the
parents and God-parents visited the Patriarch who congratulated them
and who said that the event of a Moslem Godparent for an Orthodox
Child is an example of Turko-Hellenic friendship and should become an
example for everyone to acquire a Moslem god-parent.