The heretic Apelles and Mr. Barthelemy - The calumny of "anti - Ecumenists"

Translated from the original by Costas Balomenos

The Ecumenical Patriarch. Mr. Barthelemy Α’

W

ith the beginning of the 20th century and specifically in 1902, the then Patriarch of Constantinople Joachim III, sent to the heads of the Orthodox Churches a text, in which he urged them to develop a dialogue with the heterodox churches.

In their reply, the Orthodox Churches stressed the need for unity, but they pointed to the difficulties which existed. The Greek Church, in fact, added that in the past had made similar attempts, but they had failed.

In January 1920 the Ecumenical Patriarchate addressed a circular letter “to the Churches of Christ around the world”, in which called them for establishing of a “society” of Churches, according to the standards of the “League of Nations” (the current UN)...

ORTHODOX DIVINE LITURGY: A BORING CEREMONY?!

Translated from the original by Costas Balomenos

«And (Jesus) spoke to them for many things in parables. He was saying to them, “Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who is looking for good pearls. And when, find a precious pearl, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it”»  Matthew 13: 3.45 - 46.

S

uch a pearl, like that described by the Lord in the parable above, we have in our hands the Orthodox Christians, which unfortunately we do not appreciate duly. And it is none other than the Divine Liturgy, because the Orthodox Church is eminently worshipful Church. Doctrine and Worship keep pace...

WORSHIP OF IMAGES – IS IT IDOLATRY OR NOT?

Translated from the original by Chris Tsilikas

We were impelled to writing the following article by the fact that many faithful who happened to have a discussion with followers of several heresies (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecosts, Evangelists, etc) approached us and asked for our help and for clarifications on whether the honors we pay to images, to holy relics, etc. is idolatry or not.

INFANT BAPTISM: right or wrong?

Translated from the original by Mary Moutafis

One of the favourite subjects of the heretics or the followers of any other Christian doctrine – Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecostalists, Evangelicalists, etc. – with which they believe that they will bring us to a position of disadvantage, is also the issue of baptizing infants. Since you baptize your children when they are infants, they say, they cannot offer any objection. ‘Where is the freedom of will, then’ they continue. But let us analyze all the above in the following article...

THEOTOKOS: Virgin Mary or Maria?

Transated from the original by Chris Tsilikas

Annunciation of Theotokos

It is a fact that all the heresies or the followers of any other Christian doctrine – Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecostalists, Evangelicalists, etc. – degrade Virgin Mary as a figure. More specifically all kinds of heresies support that:
Virgin Mary had other children too, apart from Jesus...

THE JUDGEMENT OF NON-CHRISTIANS AFTER DEATH

Translated from the original by Chris Tsilikas

One of the most frequently-asked questions devoted Christians address to us is that concerning the Judgement of non-Christians after death. In other words, they ask us if it is possible for non-Christians to be saved or if it is only the Christians who are finally saved.
For this reason, we’ll try to give some “clues” as answers to that question, always based on the texts of the Holy Bible. And we say “clues” because our human weakness and insignificance do not allow us to interpret God’s will. Because He is the one who is in charge of judging all of us and He has his own criteria which are far from the human criteria.
First and foremost, we should remind to all of you that our Christ revealed His Father as the Father of all people. Since God is our Father then, his interest is in saving all His children, Christians and non-Christians. And this is made explicit in several texts in both the Old and the New Testament....