ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΖΩΗ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ *** FROM THE LIFE OF HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST

Ιερά Γυναικεία Μονή Παναγίας Γοργοϋπηκόου Γοργοποτάμου Λαμίας

Πανηγύρισε ο φάρος της Ορθοδοξίας για την Κεντρική, και όχι μόνο, Ελλάδα. Η εορτή της Παναγίας μας Γοργοϋπηκόου (1/14 Οκτωβρίου) τιμήθηκε με 12ωρο ολονύκτιο Ιερά Αγρυπνία κατά την οποία έψαλλε ο καλλικέλαδος χορός των Μοναζουσών. Σύσσωμος παρέστη η Ιερά Σύνοδος της Ιεραρχίας της Γνησίας Ορθοδόξου Ελλαδικής Εκκλησίας καθώς και πλειάδα ευλαβέστατων κληρικών από όλη την Ελλάδα. Τέλος, δυναμικό παρόν έδωσε κι εφέτος το χριστεπώνυμο πλήρωμα της Αγίας του Χριστού Εκκλησίας, παρά το εργάσιμο της ημέρας, σπεύδοντας από κάθε γωνιά της Ελλάδας να τιμήσουν την Υπεραγία Θεοτόκο. Πάντες φιλοξενήθηκαν αβραμιαία από την ενάρετο και φιλόξενη Μοναστική Αδελφότητα.

Holy women's Monastery of Virgin Mary "the quick hearer" in Gorgopotamos-Lamia

The lighthouse of Orthodoxy for Central, and beyond, Greece celebrated. The Day of our Virgin Mary "the quick hearer" (1 / 14 October) was honored with 12-hour overnight Holy Vigil that was chanted by the sweet- voiced sisters of the cloister. The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Genuine Orthodox Greek Church united attended and many of respectful priests from all over Greece. Finally, the presence of the Christ- named crew of the Holy Church of Christ was also dynamic this year , despite the Working of the day, fled from all over Greece to honor the Virgin Mary. Everyone hosted by the avramian, virtuous and welcoming Monastic Brotherhood.

ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΙΕΡΕΣ ΠΑΝΗΓΥΡΕΙΣ
FROM HOLY FEASTS

Από την πανήγυρη της Ιεράς Γυναικείας Μονής Τιμίου Σταυρού Καλαμάτας, κτίτορας της οποίας τυγχάνει ο Μακαριστός Πρωθιεράρχης των Γ.Ο.Χ., Άγιος Μεσσηνίας Γρηγόριος (+2009). Η μνήμη της Υψώσεως του Τιμίου Σταυρού τιμήθηκε με ολονύκτια ιερά Αγρυπνία, παρουσία πλήθος πιστών της τοπικής Εκκλησίας στην Μεσσηνία.

On the feast of the Holy womwen's Monastery of the Holy Cross in Kalamata, which founder is the blessed First- Hierarch of G.O.C., Saint Gregory of Messinia (2009). The memory of the Elevation of the Holy Cross was honored with an overnight Vigil with presence of many faithful of local Holy Church in Messinia.

Πανήγυρη Ιερού Ναού Παναγίας Λαμποβιτίσσης Κέρκυρα

Virgin Mary Lampovitissa Church's festival in Corfu

Πανήγυρη Ιερού Ναού Γενεθλίων της Θεοτόκου Μαρκόπουλου Αττικής

Festival of Holy Church of the Virgin Mary's Birthday in Markopoulo Attica

Πανήγυρη Ιερού Καθεδρικού Ναού Αγίας Σοφίας Τρικάλων, Ιεράς Μητροπόλεως Γ.Ο.Χ. Τρίκκης & Σταγών

Saint Sophia's Cathedral church's celebration in Trikala- Holy metropolis of Trikki and Staga

Πανήγυρη Ιερού Ναού Αγίου Μάρτυρος Ευσταθίου της ομώνυμης Ιεράς Μονής στο Κρυονέρι Κηφισιάς Αττικής, όπου και συστεγάζεται το Γηροκομείο της Εκκλησίας μας

Festival of holy church of the Holy Martyr Efstathios in homonymous Monastery in Krioneri Kifissia, Attica, where the nursing home of our Church is co-located

Από την ιερά πανήγυρη του νεόδμητου Ιερού Ησυχαστηρίου Αγίου Ιωάννου του Θεολόγου Βερδικούσας Ελασσόνας Λαρίσης. Διακρίνονται ο Πανοσιότατος Ιερομόναχός π. Ιωακείμ Αγιορείτης (κτίτορας), ο ρώσος Μοναχός π. Αλέξανδρος Εσφιγμενίτης , οσιότατες μοναχές ως και οι φιλέορτοι ευλαβείς προσκυνητές που παραβρέθηκαν στην εορτή του αγαπημένου Αποστόλου του Κυρίου μας.

On the holy festival of the newly built Holy hermitage of Saint John the Theologian in Verdikoussa- Elassona- Larissa. In the centre of photo is Hieromonk Fr. Joachim Athonite (founder), the Russian monk Fr Alexander Esfigmenitis (Athonite), nuns and pious pilgrims who attended the festival of the beloved Apostle of our Lord.

Από την πανήγυρη του Ιερού Ναού Παναγίας Γοργοϋπηκόου Αθανάτων Ηρακλείου Κρήτης

Feast of holy church of Virgin Mary "Quick hearer" in Athanati Heraclion- Crete

Πανήγυρη Ιερού Ναού Οσίων 99 Πατέρων της Κρήτης στα Χανιά

Sanctuary festival of church of "99 Saints Fathers of Crete" in Chania, Crete

Πανήγυρη ιστορικού Ιερού Ναού Αγίου Δημητρίου Πάτρας

Festival of Holy historical church of Saint Dimitrios, Patra

ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ Γ.Ο.Χ. ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Πατρώων παραδόσεων

Ιερά ιστορική Ιερά Μονή Παναγίας Γαλακτοτροφούσης Λευκωσίας

CHURCH OF G.O.C. OF CYPRUS

of Paternal Traditions
Holy historical Monastery of Virgin Mary Galaktotrofousa, Nicosia

Την 8η Σεπτεμβρίου 2009 (Ε. Η.), πανηγύρισε η Ιστορική Ανδρώα Ιερά Μονή Παναγίας Γαλακτοτροφούσης στην Λευκωσία, ιερουργούντος του ακάματου Αιδεσιμότατου Ιερέως π. Ζαχαρία Τσικρικάκη. Η Ιερά αυτή Μονή της αδελφής Γνησίας Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας της Κύπρου ιδρύθηκε, με τις ευλογίες του Αγίου Πατρός Ματθαίου, από τον αείμνηστο ιεράρχη των Γ.Ο.Χ. Κύπρου , Άγιο Τριμυθούντος Σπυρίδωνα (+1963).
Μετά την εόρτιο Θεία λειτουργία πραγματοποιήθηκε η Λιτάνευση της ιεράς εικόνας των Γενεθλίων της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου. Η εν λόγω ιερά εικόνα αποτελεί μνημείο της Τουρκικής βαρβαρότητας έναντι των Χριστιανών της Μεγαλονήσου καθώς είχε βεβηλωθεί το Δεκέμβριο του 1963 όταν δολοφόνησαν τρεις (3) Ορθοδόξους Μοναχούς της Μονής και άλλους (όπως τον πολιό Ιερομόναχό π. Γεννάδιο) τους κακοποίησαν .

Αιωνία η μνήμη των Νεομαρτύρων Μοναχών της Εκκλησίας των Πατρώων Παραδόσεων Γ.Ο.Χ. Κύπρου!

On September 8, 2009 (old Orthodox calendar), the historical men's Monastery of Virgin Mary Galaktotrofousa in Nicosia, where the tireless priest Reverend Fr Zacharias Tsikrikaki served the Divine Liturgy. The Holy Monastery of the sister Genuine Orthodox Church of Cyprus was established, with the blessing of the Holy Father Matthew, by the late hierarch of G.O.C. of Cyprus, Saint Spyridon of Trimithountos (1963).
After the festal Divine Liturgy was the procession of the sacred icon of the Birthday of Virgin Mary. This sacred icon is a monument of Turkish brutality towards Christians of the island as it had desecrated in December 1963 when three (3) Orthodox monks of the Abbey were killed and others (like older Priestmonk Yennadhios) were abused.

Eternal memory of the martyrs Monks of the Church of Paternal Traditions of G.O.C. of Cyprus!

Από τους διωγμούς των Ορθοδόξων- Τhe persecution of the Orthodox

KΑΘΗΓΟΥΜΕΝΗ ΜΑΡΙΑΜ ΜΟΝΑΧΗ

Επί τη μνήμη της Θεομητορικής εορτής των Εισοδίων της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Μαρίας, κατά την οποία και πανηγυρίζει η μαρτυρική ιστορική γυναικεία Ιερά Μονή της Παναγίας στην Κερατέα Αττικής, παραθέτουμε απόσπασμα ιστορικού αρθρογραφήματος από την τότε όντως "Ορθόδοξο Πνοή" (Ιανουάριος 1990) ώστε να θυμόμαστε οι παλιότεροι και να γνωρίζουμε οι νεώτεροι τους αγώνες, που έδωσαν σύγχρονες άγιες μορφές (όπως η Καθηγουμένη Μαριάμ) υπέρ της γλυκύτατης Ορθοδοξίας και της Αγίας του Χριστού Εκκλησίας με κάθε τίμημα!

Και με τη πρόφαση αυτή, ότι δήθεν η Καθηγουμένη της Μονής αείμνηστος Μαριάμ Σουλακιώτου, σφετεριζόταν τις περιουσίες των προσερχόμενων να μονάσουν, αποκλειστικά όμως και κυριολεκτικά, διότι αυτή και η Μονή της ακολουθούσε με συνέπεια το Πάτριο Ορθόδοξο Εορτολόγιο, το 1950 δικάστηκε και καταδικάστηκε, άδικα, αναίτια και παράνομα. Και κλείστηκε παρά την κατάφορη αθωότητά της, στη φυλακή όπου οσίως και μαρτυρικώς απεβίωσε την 8η Νοεμβρίου 1954 εορτή των Αγίων Αρχαγγέλων (κατά το Ορθόδοξο Εορτολόγιο), σε ηλικία 64 ετών.

Επομένως η αείμνηστος και αξιομακάριστος Καθηγουμένη Μαριάμ Σουλακιώτου υπήρξε αναμφισβήτητα μια ΟΣΙΟΜΑΡΤΥΣ και ΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΤΡΙΑ του παρόντος αιώνα, υπομένοντας με απαράμιλλη γενναιοψυχία και ηρωικότατα το σκληρό αυτό, έστω και αναίμακτο μαρτύριο, χωρίς να αδημονεί, χωρίς να καμφθεί, χωρίς να εξοργιστεί κατά τινός, με άκραν υπομονή και καρτερία, με θαυμαστή πνευματική ανδρεία και μεγαλοψυχία παραδειγματική, έχοντας πάντοτε τον Μακαρισμό του Κυρίου: "Μακάριοι έστε, όταν ονειδίσωσιν ημάς και διώξωσι και ειπώσι παν πονηρόν ρήμα καθ' υμών ψευδόμενοι ένεκεν εμού. Χαίρετε και αγαλλιάσθε, ότι ο μισθός ημών πολύς εν τοις ουρανοίς. Ούτως γαρ εδίωξαν και τους προφήτας τους προ ημών." Και "αγαπάτε τους εχθρούς υμών, καλώς ποιείτε τοις μισούσιν υμάς, ευλογειτε τους καταρωμένους ημίν, προσεύχεσθε υπέρ των επηρεαζόντων ημάς». Δηλαδή: Να είστε ευτυχισμένοι, όταν σας ονειδίσουν και σας διώξουν και πουν κάθε κακό λόγο ψευδόμενοι έτσι από μένος εναντίον μου (του Κυρίου σας). Να χαίρεστε διότι ο μισθός σας θα είναι πολύς στους Ουρανούς. Έτσι έδιωξαν και τους προφήτες πριν από εμάς. Ευλογείτε όσους σας καταριούνται και να κάνετε το καλό σε όσους σας μισούν και να προσεύχεστε για όσους σας ενοχλούν και σας διώκουν.

Αυτή ήταν η αείμνηστη Καθηγουμένη Μαριάμ, και όχι όπως την παρουσίασαν ο αναίσχυντες εφημερίδες και ο ασεβής όχλος. Απόδειξη ότι όλα αυτά συντελέσθηκαν από καταχθόνιους σκοπούς και από συκοφαντικές διαβολές κακόβουλων ανθρώπων υπήρξε το εξής: Δημοσιογράφος αθηναϊκής εφημερίδας επισκέφτηκε τη Μονή και ερωτώμενος από τις μονάζουσας γιατί με τόσο πάθος και κακία καταφέρεται κατά της Μονής στην εφημερίδα του, απάντησε "Πληρώνομαι και τα γράφω. Δώστε μου εσείς τα διπλά και αμέσως θα τα

αναιρέσω". Είη αιώνια η μνήμη της Οσιομάρτυρας και ομολογήτριας Μαριάμ Ηγουμένης Μαριάμ Σουλακιώτου. Παραπλήσιες δοκιμασίες υπέμειναν οι μοναχές.

Επηρεασμένοι πολλοί από τις πολλές και δεινές συκοφαντίες και τα φοβερά ψεύδη, επιδίωκαν τη παντελή διάλυση της Μονής. Συζητούσαν διαρκώς και συσκέπτονταν σε τη να την μεταβάλλουν όταν περιέλθει στα χέρια τους. Άλλοτε αποφάσιζαν να την μεταβάλλουν σε παιδικές εξοχές άλλοτε σε νοσοκομείο και άλλοτε σε στρατώνες. Αυτό το επέμειναν ιδιαιτέρως και έρχονταν ανώτεροι στρατιωτικοί, οι οποίοι εισερχόμενοι αυθαίρετα στο Παρθενώνα μετρούσαν τις διαστάσεις των κελιών Αλλά... Θεία ευδοκία, τα έβρισκαν ακατάλληλα προς εγκατάσταση στρατιωτικών δυνάμεων. Το δε ανατριχιαστικότερο, ότι αποφάσισαν , στα κτίρια της Μονής να εγκαταστήσουν ... λεπροκομείο. Αφού όμως διαδόθηκε αυτό εξηγέρθησαν οι κάτοικοι της Κερατέας, αγανακτισμένοι για την απόφαση τους αυτή, και την επίμονη απαίτηση τους, να μη πραγματοποιηθεί αυτό.

Η κραταιά Σκέπη της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου και οι θεοπειθείς πρεσβείες του εν ουρανοίς αοιδίμου κτήτορα της (Αγίου Ματθαίου του Ομολογητή), διέλυσαν τις αντίθετες βουλές τους και απομάκρυναν κάθε κακόβουλη ενέργεια τους. Οι μοναχές στη Μονή, αν και με τις καθημερινές αυτές εφόδους διαρκώς ευρίσκονταν σε θλίψη και αγωνία, είχαν όμως ακμαίο το φρόνημα και μεγάλη γενναιοψυχία και καρτερικότητα υπέμειναν όλα αυτά. Έλαβαν την ηρωική απόφαση, εάν τελικά αποφασιστεί η διάλυση της Μονής και έλθουν να τις εξαναγκάσουν δια της βίας, τότε να την ανατινάξουν στον αέρα και να την αναδείξουν ένα νέο Αρκάδι. Προτιμώντας να ταφούν στα ερείπια της, παρά να εγκαταλείψουν τη Μονή της Μετανοίας τους, την οποία με τόσους μόχθους και κόπους ίδρυσαν, δια τη ψυχική τους σωτηρία.

ABESS MARIAM (+ 1954)

In memory of holy feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, in which the martyred and historical women's Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Keratea Attica celebrates, we quote from the history article of then actually "Orthodox Breath" (January 1990) to remember the Older and younger know the battles that holy faces gave in our days (such as Mary Abbot) for the sweetest Orthodoxy and the Holy Church of Christ at all costs!

“And by this pretext that supposedly the Abbot of the monastery late Mariam Soulakiotou, usurping the property of them sisters who become a monk, but only literally, because She (Nun Mariam) and the Monastery follow consistently the paternal Eastern Orthodox calendar, in 1950 she was tried and convicted, unjustly unnecessarily and illegally. And she was shut, despite her blatant innocence, in prison where she died as a martyr and a saint on November 8, 1954 Saints Angels’ feast (in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar), at the age of 64 years.

Therefore, the late and blessed memory Abbot Mary Soulakiotou was undoubtedly a SAINT- MARTYR and CONFESSOR of this century, enduring with unparalleled generosity and heroic endurance, albeit bloodless martyrdom without to be anxious, without being bent, without to be angry against anyone, with great patience and fortitude, with admirable intellectual prowess and exemplary generosity, always she was having the beatitudes of the Lord: "Blessed are you when they criticize you and reject you and tell you every wicked saying Because of me, in falsehood. Be glad and rejoice that your reward is great in Heaven. For this is how they rejected the prophets before you. (Matthew 5, 11- 12)" And "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (Luke 6, 27- 28).

She was the late Mary Abbot, and not as she was presented by the shameless papers and the disrespectful mob. One proof that all this were occurred by infernal purposes and by malicious people with devil libelous was this: A Athenian Journalist in a newspaper visited the monastery and he was questioned by the Nuns why he inflicted with so much passion and evil on the monastery in his newspaper and he replied "I get paid and write. Give me the double and I will immediately resume. Be blessed everlasting the memory of the Martyr and Confessor Mother Mary Soulakiotou. Similar tortures endured the (400) nuns (of this historical Holy Monastery of Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece.

As many were influenced by the formidable slander and the terrible lies, they sought the complete dissolution of the monastery. They discussed constantly and consult on the change when they would have in their hands. Sometimes they decide to change it in a hospital, sometimes in camp for kids and sometimes in barracks. This persisted on it and very senior military were coming, who were entrants in arbitrary dimensions in Monastery’s Parthenon to count the cells but ... by the Divine will, they found them unfit for the military installation. And the most terrible was that they decided to use the buildings of the monastery...as a hospital for lepers. But since this new was spread, the residents of Keratea protested, frustrated for their decision, and they demand persistent not to do this.

The Mighty protects of the Virgin Mary and the embassies of the Blessed memory, owner in heaven (St. Matthew the Confessor), dispelled any contrary advice and remove any malicious action to. The nuns in the monastery, although the daily raids that they ever were left in grief and agony they were thriving but the mind and great generosity and they endured perseverance all this. They results in the heroic decision, if they finally would decide the dissolution of the monastery and they would come to compel by force, then the nuns would be blow up in the air. They preferred to be buried in the ruins than to leave the Monastery of their repentance, which by so toil and labor, the sisters formed, for their soul's salvation.

Β' ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ ΠΕΡΙ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΕΙΚΟΝΩΝ

ΚΛΙΚ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΘΕ ΕΙΚΟΝΑ ΓΙΑ ΚΑΘΑΡΗ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΗ!

Γ' ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ ΠΕΡΙ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΕΙΚΟΝΩΝ

AGAINST THE HERESY OF FLORINITES "IN RESISTΑNCE" UNDER KYPRIANOS OF FILI

"The Dubious Orthodoxy of Metropolitan Cyprian's Group"

by Bishop (of former ROCOR) GREGORY Grabbe

NOTE: This text was written by Bishop of former "ROCOR" Gregory Grabbe (2005) in 1993 when ROCOR and the schismatic- heretic group of Kyprianos were united against the Holy Rules and the Orthodox Church without the common Orthodox belief. This blasphemous union stopped as the ROCOR is united with the Ecumenist- Sergianist "Patriarchate" of Mosca in 2007.

The "ecclesiology" of Kyprianos, that is the same with the "ecclesiology" of Bishop Chrysostom Former of Florina (head of Florinite Schism) is heretical as they recognize grace in the "Sacraments" of Heretics (Ecumenist- New Calendarists) in contrast with the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece that keep the True Orthodox Ecclesiology of Church of Christ.

This schismatic group of Cyprianos was created in 1984 after the break up of an older schism of a former orthodox bishop Kallistos of Korinthia (1977) and a florinite false "bishop". In 1979 they made a coup and a new false "synod". After few years they (except Cyprian of Fili) were united in the florinite schism of Chr. Kiousis without to repent and to be united in the Genuine Orthodox Church!

(Translated from *Church News* [in Russian], No. 5, Sept. - Oct. 1994, pp. 2-4.) The newspaper *Pravoslavnaya Rus*, in its issue number seventeen of the present year,published the Decision of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad concerning theestablishment of prayerful Eucharistic communion with the group of Old Calendaristsheaded by Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili.

In its concluding section the Decision elucidates the causes that prompted the Sobor totake this step. However, in not one of its six points does it mention that the Sobor of 1975resolved not to have communion with the Greek groups until they themselves had become united, and the Synod, already presided over by Metropolitan Vitaly, reaffirmedthis wise decision in the spring of 1993, that is, a mere year and a half ago. Everyone isaware that the Greek groups can in no wise boast of having already achieved unity, yet the present Conciliar Decision offers no explanation what so ever for this abrogation by the Sobor of its previous resolutions.Thus, in the Decision it is stated,"After deliberation and analysis of all aspects of these questions [concerning the history and ideology of this group] the Council of Bishops maintains that at the present time, when apostasy is spreading and the so-called official representatives of Orthodoxy, such as the Patriarchate of Constantinople and other patriarchates, are succumbing to and embracing the position of the Modernists and Ecumenists, it is very important for theTrue Orthodox to unite, make a stand together, and oppose the betrayers of the Orthodoxy of the Holy Fathers. In this regard, the Council of Bishops has decided:

"1) To establish communion in prayer and the Eucharist with the Greek Old Calendarist Synod of Metropolitan Cyprian, as well as with His Grace, Bishop Photios of Triaditsa,who heads the Bulgarian Old Calendar diocese."

Bishop Photios was consecrated for the Bulgarians by the self-same Metropolitan Cyprian, and thus his legitimacy is dependent upon the legitimacy of Metropolitan Cyprian...

The second point [of the decision] deals with informing the flock abroad of this event.In point number three it is stated, "During the deliberations, the statements of those opposed to the union were also taken into account, in which the question was raisedconcerning the canonicity of Metropolitan Cyprian's group and their allegedly un-Orthodox teaching on Grace."

Aside from his personal teaching on Grace (more on this below), Metropolitan Cyprianhas likewise been accused of preaching the heresy of chiliasm.

Concerning the "canonicity" of this group enough has already been said and written. But what then is their "allegedly un-Orthodox teaching on Grace"?

Preparing the ground for possible union with the Church Abroad well in advance,Metropolitan Cyprian issued a pamphlet entitled "An Ecclesiological Thesis, orExposition on the Doctrine of the Church, for the Orthodox Opposed to the Heresy ofEcumenism" It would seem that, judging from the title of the pamphlet, nothing could be said against such a program. The pamphlet is quite handsomely printed, even to the point of using the old orthography [i.e., pre-Revolutionary]. It was very widelydistributed, and each member of the Bishop's Sobor undoubtedly received a copy. However, with great consternation and dismay one is forced to point out that apparentlythe very members of the Bishops' Committee investigating the Greek question themselves, and all the members of the Bishops' Sobor together, failed to pursues ufficiently what is called "reading between the lines" of this pamphlet, which abounds inancient texts and is deftly put together, but which bears little relation to the contemporary ecclesiastical situation.Moreover, it is obvious that they took scant notice of the canonicity (very doubtful) of Metropolitan Cyprian's group, for the subject is not at all reflected in the text of the Sobor's Decision. Likewise evident is the fact that the committee took no accountwhatsoever of the motives behind our own previous resolutions.

Let us now attempt to determine precisely what sort of Orthodoxy Metropolitan Cypriandoes confess and whether or not one can actually say with a clear conscience that both heand his synod *adheres wholly to the exact same ecclesiological and dogmatic principlesas our Russian Church Outside Russia* (point five of the Sobor's Decision).In the chapter [of the pamphlet] entitled "The Church and Heresy," page two, it says:"Sinners and those who err in correctly understanding the Faith, yet who have not been sentenced by ecclesiastical action, are simply considered ailing members of the Church. The Mysteries of these unsentenced members are valid as such, according to the Seventh Ecumenical Council, as, for example, the President of the Council, Saint Tarasios,remarks: "[their] ordination" "is from God.”

Later, in the third chapter, the author turns to the matter, "The Division in the Church Over Ecumenism" - as he calls it.

It seems strange to hear from a bishop who proclaims his Orthodoxy the idea that the Church can be "divided." The Holy Fathers have taught that She always was, is, and shall be the indivisible Bride of Christ. One can only fall away from Her or be reunited to Her through repentance. Metropolitan Anthony [Khrapovitsky] especially emphasized to his priests the necessity, after confession, of reading the ancient Prayer of Absolution which contains the word, "reconcile and unite him to Thy holy Church," thereby indicating thathe who sins falls away from the Church. Although private confession can heal personal moral falls, it in no wise cures a public and obdurate inclination to heresy. Metropolitan Cyprian correctly points out that the beginning of the malady was the introduction of the Western calendar into the life of the Church in 1924. But then later headvances an opinion which in no wise corresponds to the present ecclesiastical situation."The followers of the festal calendar innovation," says he, "have not yet been specifically judged in a pan-Orthodox fashion, as provided for by the Orthodox Church. As Saint Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain writes, the violator of established precepts isconsidered sentenced, insofar as he is judged by 'the second entity (which is the Councilor Synod).' Since 1924, the innovators have been awaiting judgment and shall be judgedon the basis of the decisions of the holy Councils, both Ecumenical and local, and, to besure, on the basis of the ecclesiastical pronouncements of the sixteenth century againstwhat were then Papal proposals for changes in the festal calendar. *In this respect thosewho have walled themselves off from the innovators have actually broken communion 'before conciliar or synodal verdict,' as is allowed in the Fifteenth Canon of the First-and-Second Council. That is to say, the innovators are still unsentenced. Consequently,*[according to the teaching of Metropolitan Cyprian], *their Mysteries arevalid.*[Emphasis mine.]

Metropolitan Cyprian chooses a convenient quotation from this canon to suit his purpose,but intentionally does not cite the subsequent text of the canon concerning those whose parate themselves from their presidents before a synodical judgment in cases where the open preaching of heresy is taking place:

"Such persons as these not only are not subject to canonical penalty for walling themselves off from communion with the so-called bishop before synodical clarification,but [on the contrary] they shall be deemed worthy of due honor among the Orthodox. Fornot bishops, but false bishops and false teachers have they condemned, and they have not fragmented the Church's unity with schism, but from schisms and divisions have theyearnestly sought to deliver the Church. (Canon Fifteen of the so-called First-SecondCouncil)"

The adherents of Roman Catholicism in Russia have from of old cited the fact that not one Ecumenical Council has ever condemned Roman Catholicism and therefore it, theysay, is not a heresy. Such an opinion was quite widespread among our intelligentsia, andespecially in military circles.

Chapter Four is entitled "Repentance and Return." That which is expounded there in concerning the principle of repentance is entirely correct and in accord with the canons.Yet while offering us numerous examples of repentance which took place at one or another Ecumenical Council, Metropolitan Cyprian never so much as mentions the fact that the New Calendarists/Ecumenists not only have no intention whatsoever of repenting, but on the contrary, they persecute the True Orthodox in a most cruel manner.We have before our eyes the example of how quite recently they "strangled," one could say, Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem, who was attempting to defend the Orthodoxy of the Holy Fathers. Only a few months have now passed since they - by means of threats of expulsion from their monasteries, and canonical sanctions, have forced to repent before them that last bastion of Orthodoxy, the Holy Mountain - which was defending the Church from the inroads of the heresy of Ecumenism.

Metropolitan Cyprian sees no grounds for severing communion with the New- Calendarists/Ecumenists until such a time as it will be possible for a future Ecumenical Council to judge them. But who could not be aware (including the Metropolitan himself) that for almost twenty years now the Ecumenists have been preparing the program for the future - and not in the least Orthodox - "Eighth Ecumenical Council"? The PreconciliarCommittee has already on more than one occasion published its drafts for the reports tobe delivered at this future "Council." The issues to be discussed at it include the unification of all Christians, the total abolition of the fasts, married bishops, and second marriages for the clergy.

Who, then, will be the president of this dishonorable assembly, which, according toMetropolitan Cyprian's daydreams, is supposed to condemn the Ecumenists/NewCalendarists? Obviously, that crypto-Roman Catholic, the Ecumenical PatriarchBartholomew. And those like unto him will prove to be its members: the Patriarch ofAlexandria, Parthenios (who has officially declared Mohammed to be a great prophet andpersonally considers him an Apostle!); the Patriarch of Antioch (who has already issued adirective to his clergy granting them permission to concelebrate with the hereticalMonophysites); the Patriarch of Moscow (who has signed both the Balamand Unia andthe agreement concerning the Monophysites, and who has even initiated a dialogue with the Jews "on the highest possible level").

I have been given the opportunity to acquaint myself with several letters written by one of the bishops of Metropolitan Cyprian's group. From these it is quite evident that he andhis fellow bishops confess their own personal, and in no wise Orthodox, doctrine concerning the possibility of the Grace-filled activity of the Holy Spirit within churches which have become manifestly heretical. *ALL the New Calendarists - without the least exception - are likewise very active Ecumenists.* The Old Style Churches (Russianand Serbian) have for a long time now also confessed this very same heresy.

But behold, this hierarch of Metropolitan Cyprian's group insists on the opinion that, so he says, "the New Calendarists, besieged by the heresy of Ecumenism and Innovation,have not been deprived of Grace, or at any rate, it is not within our competency tomake such a pronouncement on our part ... we are not speaking of union with Belial, but (only) with those ailing in faith, several of whom are in need of spiritual treatment ... inview of this, we do not totally break off communion with them.” In another letter the same hierarch expresses the thought -totally unacceptable and absurd from a dogmatic point of view and from that of the Holy Fathers - that this group, while recognizing that the Ecumenists have Grace, is only "walling itself off from their errors."

In pronouncing its Decision concerning communion with Metropolitan Cyprian's group,our Sobor, unfortunately, did not also call to mind the text of that Decision takenformerly, under the presidency of Metropolitan Philaret, anathematizing the heresy of Ecumenism. Among others it contains such words as these * "Therefore, to those who knowingly have communion with these aforementioned heretics, or who advocate,disseminate, or defend their new heresy of Ecumenism: Anathema.” Indeed, by not investigating the matter seriously and by forgetting about this previously confirmed anathematizing of the New Calendarists/Ecumenists (or perhaps not venturing to abrogate this resolution), our Sobor, as frightful as it may be to admit, has fallen underits own Anathema. Had it probed the net spread before it more carefully, it would neverhave issued such a contradictory Decision.

Our previous Bishops' Sobors never raised the particular question concerning whether or not the New Calendarists have Grace. But the fact that formerly concelebrations with them were never permitted already testifies with sufficient clarity that the Church Abroad considered them to be without Grace.

Must we consider that our Synod has entered upon the path of betrayal of the traditions of the Holy Fathers, or did it merely commit an error owing to poor judgment which it is still not too late to correct at the next session of the Sobor to be held in November in France?

+ Bishop GREGORY