New Archbishop of the GOC of Greece (Sarantopoulos)

[Despotovac]

Hieromonk Acacius (SerbianTOC)
Some Thoughts Concerning the Election of the New Archbishop of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece

It can only be guessed what direction the GOC will take under her new head, Archbishop Kallinikos. Although the first hierarch, as the first among equals, does not have autocratic power, he certainly has great influence on the course to be taken by the Ark of the Local Church.

Read more: https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B7 ... NGRm&hl=sr

http://serbiantrueorthodox.blogspot.com ... st_05.html

[Despotovac]

Hieromonk Acacius says:

I wanted to share thoughts about the concluded election of the new first hierarch of the Greek Church with all our brothers and sisters throughout True Orthodoxy because it concerns all of us. This is a problem which concerns all of us, Greeks as much as Russians, Serbs, and Americans… The realization of unity of True Orthodox should be the communal task of all of us. The basis of this unity is mutual love, respect and understanding. The first of the causes mentioned of what is necessary for the unity of the True Orthodox, for which the Lord Christ prayed, “That all be one, Father, just as I am in Thee and I inYou,” is respect for the Localism of a Local church. Bishop Kallinikos didn’t respect the right of locality of the Russian Church and it was more than obvious.

The very negative stance which the then-Metropolitan of Korinth held in the question of entry into union of the Greeks with the Russians is known to many. Thanks to him the entering into communion of two local churches was stopped. In the meantime reposed in the Lord the ever-memorable Archbishop Chrysostom, whose great wish was that in his lifetime would again occur unity with his Russian True Orthodox brothers. It was expected that the course of the ever-memorable Archbishop would be held to the end by the other TOC Greek bishops. However, the choosing of the former Metropolitan, now Archbishop as the first hierarch of the Greek TOC, and that by the majority of votes, shows in what direction the Greek TOC is going.

Bishop Kallinikos confused believers with his declarations and attitudes. That unchurchly stance which is against one of the most important dogmas of the Orthodox Church – Community (sobornost, καθολικη) – was unfortunately accepted by believers who accepted this bishop’s conclusions. Many times among believers claims have been heard that the Russian TOC is not a church of any sort and that not just the Russian faithful, but also priests and bishops have to be rebaptized. All of this moved in me a storm of feelings which I could not keep to myself.