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The GreekAmerican - January 7, 2000
AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS ALL HOLINESS
PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW
"He is the Archbishop forever. He is until he dies,"
Patriarch Bartholomew - January 12, 1999
January 12, 1999 may be past but has not been forgotten by many Greek Orthodox Christians in America, although the Ecumenical Patriarchate may wish to eradicate this day and three fruitful years from its vision. In January of last year, the Greek American community sought affirmation from the Partriachate that the Holy Traditions of our Church and Ecclesiastical Order could withstand the tempest of temporal pressures.
We respectfully recalled Your words of July 30, 1996, following the service of apostolic succession when You gave us our canonical archbishop and shepherd, "Today is an eminent day for the Great Church of Christ…we entrust this great and dynamic eparchy of the Throne into energetic and dynamic hands." On this day, with the inspiration and the blessing of the Holy Spirit, You commissioned Archbishop Spyridon to go forth "never doubting" to meet the challenges of his ministry.
Last January, we received with great hope the assurance that this spiritual truth would be uncompromised, first and foremost at the highest levels of authority in our church. We rejoiced in the profound affirmation that the Holy Spirit guides the decisions regarding the election of ecclesiastical hierarchy and governance of our church; and not by the will of men.
What has happened to us since this memorable day? With disillusionment we watched the words of those sitting in this Ecumenical Patriarchate waiver, falter, and finally dissolve into empty rhetoric, shaking the very foundations of our faith. Are we to believe that those guarding the immutable truths of our Greek Orthodox faith fell pray to the same worldly corruption that plague today’s secular society? By eroding ecclesiastical order, by giving validity to actions of disobedience, anarchy, greed, power and political motivation, we condone those very qualities that we know to be the antithesis of the Holy Spirit. How then can we say that this action was done "for the good of the Church?"
Your All Holiness, You have left us disillusioned and disheartened with the Partriachate and the dignity of Your person and the Holy and Sacred Synod. You have senselessly removed from us a dedicated and dynamic leader, at perhaps the most critical time in the history of our church in America!
Archbishop Spyridon – The only true spiritual leader this country has ever had!
ΔΕΝ ΞΕΧΝΟΥΜΕ
January 12, 2000
FAITHFUL GREEK ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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January 12, 1999
In spite of the press releases issued by the Patriarchate on January 12, 1999 the Greek Orthodox Community in America is well aware of the
fact that Archbishop Spyridon never received the support and backing of Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod. On the contrary he was
systematically undermined by the Phanar. Tragically for us, Bartholomew's personal agendas overshadowed what we know was needed
for the greater good of our Church.
On January 12, 2000 the Greek Orthodox Community wants to re-affirm that while His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon
does not have the support of the Phanar, he always had, and will continue to have the love, support and backing
of the Orthodox people of this country.
We will always recognize his labor and courageous efforts to preserve our rich traditions and faith, and for this we will forever be grateful.
GREEK ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LEADERS
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
[ The GreekAmerican - January 7, 2000 - p. 20 ]
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