Athonites opposed the visit of Archbishop Elpidophoros to Athos

Representatives of almost all the monasteries of Athos signed a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew with a request cancel the visit to the Holy Mountain of the head of the Phanariot Archdiocese of the United States, Archbishop Alfagotfora.

In a letter published by the publication Εθνικού Κήρυκαrepresentatives of the Athonite monasteries, addressing Patriarch Bartholomew, under whose jurisdiction the Holy Mountain is located, write that due to the baptism of children of a same-sex couple performed by Archbishop Elfagotforum in Vouliagmeni, “a false impression was created about the Church’s acceptance of the sacrament of same-sex marriage, which is contrary to the doctrines and teachings of the Orthodox Church.”

The monks emphasized that “this fact, contrary to the teaching of the Gospel, causes deep concern for the sacred community.”

“Therefore, Your Holiness, we humbly ask you to respect our concerns on this extremely sensitive issue, which concerns the integrity of the faith and Orthodox traditions,” – the letter says.

According to information Εθνικού Κήρυκα (National Bulletin)if ElfagotfoR will still come to Athos, he will not be received with the usual honors for archbishops.

Monasteries and monks are put in a difficult position, since they cannot, in their words, “close the door” in front of the Orthodox hierarch, and therefore they turn to Patriarch Bartholomew with a request to recommend Archbishop ElfagotfoRU not to go to Athos, because they believe that “he will be photographed there with his emigrant companions to show that he has been accepted by the monks.”

Εθνικού Κήρυκα also reports that a few months ago Archbishop ElfagotfoR asked permission to go to Athos to attend the holiday of one of the monasteries, but in response he heard that he was not welcome. It is also known that during the upcoming visit of Elfagotfora he will be accompanied to Thessaloniki by a group of Greek-Americans.

The Archbishop intends to speak to the Israeli community of Thessaloniki and ordain a young man from Mexico, whom he will assign to the Transfiguration of Our Savior community in Corona, New York, for “missionary work” among Latinos in the area. The ordination will take place in Greece, since the American authorities did not approve a visa for the relatives of the future Phanar priest in the United States to travel to America.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Archbishop ElfagotfoRhead of the Archdiocese of Phanar in the USA, during a visit to Greece baptized two children of a same-sex “family”. This situation caused a scandal in Greece. The Greek Church promised to file a complaint with Patriarch Bartholomew, since Archbishop ElfagotfoR did not inform Metropolitan Anthony of Glyfada that “parents” children – sodomites, however, the matter was quickly hushed up, allegedly due to a call from Fanari.

In turn, Metropolitan Anthony (Avramiotis) of Glyfada said that Archbishop ElfagotfoR, by baptizing the children of a same-sex couple, misled him. However, he also did not dare to speak out against the authority of the Phanariotis.

According to Athens News, previously Elfagotfor performed the baptism ceremony for this gay couple, but information about this was not recorded in the church book at the request, although it became public knowledge.

Letter from Athos to Patriarch Bartholomew – original:

«Καρυαί τη 15η/28η Δεκεμβρίου 2023

Τη Αυτού Θειοτάτη Παναγιότητι

Τω Οικουμενικώ Πατριάρχη

Κυρίω κω ΒΑΡΘΟΛΟΜΑΙΩ

Πανσεβάστω Πατρί ημών και Δεσπότη

Εις Φανάριον

Παναγιώτατε Πάτερ και Δέσποτα,

Διά του παρόντος ιεροκοινος εξ’ αφορμής της επικειμένης επισκέψεως του Σεβασμιοτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπ ου Αμερικής κ. Illustration ?? αφορικώς εις τα επισυμβάντα κατά τη διάρκεια της τελέσως του μυστηρίου της βαπτίσεως παιδιών “ομοφύλου ζεύγους”, το οποίον έλαβεν χώραν εις τοιν Ιερόν Ναόν της Παναγίας Φανερωμένης εις Βουλιαγμένην.

Μετά λύπης διαπιστώνομεν ότι, μέσω των δημιοσιευθέντων φωτογραφιών του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής, μετά το πέρας του μυστηρίου, εδημιουργήθ η λανθασμένη εντύπωσις σχετικώς με την αποδοχήν υπό της Εκκλησίας του ? δόγματα και την διδασκαλίαν της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας . Το γεγονός τούτο, απάδον τη ευαγγελική διδασκαλία, προκαλεί τον έντονο ν προβληματισμόν της καθ’ ημάς Ιεράς Κοινότητος.

Οθεν, Παναγιώτατε, παρακαλούμεν υιικώς, όπως κλίνητε ευήκοον ους εις τ το ά εις την ακεραιότητα της ημετέρας πίστεως και των ορθοδόξων παραδόσεων.

Επί δε τούτοις, εμπεπιστευμένοι τη Υμετέρα πεπνυμένη κρίσει εξαιτού μενθα τας Υμετέρας Πατρικάς ευχάς επί ταις εορταίς του Αγίου Δωδεκαημέρ ου και διατελούμεν εν τω μέλλοντι Κυρίω βαπτισθήναι μεθ” τάτου σεβασμού.

?? κοσιν Ιερών Μονών του Αγίου Ορους Αθω.”

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