tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103976278578023602024-03-18T23:01:45.465-04:00KNOW THYSELFAn Examination of Moral and Ethical Issues from an Orthodox Christian PerspectiveUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-71234286241798813802024-02-19T11:31:00.026-05:002024-02-19T12:24:01.439-05:00Interview With Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos on the Same-Sex Marriage Bill in Greece<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ogjgYdmTlsyeba0WLEVIfT4d3lScZJOrzj1rjy6owOzLwPtPx_3WtNTr8xFjGY86oP7aPBOLJeASLNouXvWqD_bmy9CE5uzn2fRE5_rVOs__DRlZqa4L_R0eqzvBizteM1qRhIx96BiqDVvHBEx6elsxRO1f9KotIdh6i4IdRVobnKHU5WqkJnVbq9BZ/s1273/2024-02-17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1273" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ogjgYdmTlsyeba0WLEVIfT4d3lScZJOrzj1rjy6owOzLwPtPx_3WtNTr8xFjGY86oP7aPBOLJeASLNouXvWqD_bmy9CE5uzn2fRE5_rVOs__DRlZqa4L_R0eqzvBizteM1qRhIx96BiqDVvHBEx6elsxRO1f9KotIdh6i4IdRVobnKHU5WqkJnVbq9BZ/w640-h358/2024-02-17.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou calls those who voted for the same-sex "marriage" bill to assume their responsibilities towards the Orthodox people and God. Speaking exclusively to ope.gr and the journalist Demetris Stroumbakos, His Eminence referred to this unprecedented law for Greece. At the same time, he does not hide his sadness for the way in which the final outcome of the vote was interpreted by the International Mass Media.<br><br>Below are excerpts of what His Eminence said in the telephone interview:<br><br>Metropolitan Hierotheos, with his deeply theological words and his always substantiated opinion, said the following referring to the passing of the bill:<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2024/02/interview-with-metropolitan-hierotheos.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-39161086795385774202024-01-24T16:09:00.006-05:002024-01-24T16:16:22.326-05:00Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos Speaks to Press on the Announcement of the Church of Greece on Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dbfKTYbMFkQEoSUSvjt7flE6e44eQQ6ZrgG5OVfa7TENDjjVi1H2tHCjexAXUJ7tEG4YFcauBVVCA3xAeV_KrchmgmEVWIIqk255fd8kIMiaFTRRoahyphenhyphen1Ktrb3_0vXrpgG5OSUfe66PQCOmHTCXO-ZoLjKDeJLbLq57VBzHprAdjNlQLRQ4wi-D5sQPs/s1280/snapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dbfKTYbMFkQEoSUSvjt7flE6e44eQQ6ZrgG5OVfa7TENDjjVi1H2tHCjexAXUJ7tEG4YFcauBVVCA3xAeV_KrchmgmEVWIIqk255fd8kIMiaFTRRoahyphenhyphen1Ktrb3_0vXrpgG5OSUfe66PQCOmHTCXO-ZoLjKDeJLbLq57VBzHprAdjNlQLRQ4wi-D5sQPs/w640-h360/snapshot.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the Archbishop said "no", everyone applauded him, said Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou, a member of the Hierarchy's press committee, speaking to ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation). The decision was unanimous, there was no objection and no reaction, instead we saw the unity of the Church, he pointed out among other things.<br><br>He added that "a text will be drawn up which will be read in the churches, in the sacred temples, on February 4th. It is called 'To the People' and it is customary for the Church to do this for serious matters. She writes a text to inform the people. Subsequently or at the same time, a text with a legal framework and legal content will be drawn up, which will be sent to all members of Parliament."<br><br>When asked if the love of the Church also concerns people who have a different sexual preference and live with their partner, he answered: <br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2024/01/metropolitan-hierotheos-of-nafpaktos.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-37540539716738842522024-01-24T13:44:00.010-05:002024-01-24T13:51:04.064-05:00Announcement by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Greece<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr76r96Ge_78YCwyGa3b1Jbd2cMAl_0gM6NVfnJLQF20fmVRpNDvzEPwwgNv3twiwJEP3w8e4NV8jLzMtSlcmY-HJeJhPsg-STqX7tjGbHv6IPqzCGOulw9heCngelkTTQKbkLtSU4UHmfDl_dj9k_8B7rAw8XZk9xp9rLKBhsH-UY-KWucoz-kABu_5DO/s720/fanari-sinodos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="720" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr76r96Ge_78YCwyGa3b1Jbd2cMAl_0gM6NVfnJLQF20fmVRpNDvzEPwwgNv3twiwJEP3w8e4NV8jLzMtSlcmY-HJeJhPsg-STqX7tjGbHv6IPqzCGOulw9heCngelkTTQKbkLtSU4UHmfDl_dj9k_8B7rAw8XZk9xp9rLKBhsH-UY-KWucoz-kABu_5DO/w640-h366/fanari-sinodos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Holy and Sacred Synod, meeting under the presidency of His All-Holiness in its regular session, today, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, reminds the pious flock of the All-Revered Ecumenical Throne, of the discussion regarding the institutionalization of marriage between individuals of the same sex and adoption in Greece, of the binding Decision of the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church (Crete, June 2016), that "the Church does not allow for her members to contract same-sex unions or any other form of cohabitation apart from marriage" which is "the union of man and woman in Christ" and which "constitutes 'a small church' or an icon of the Church" (text "<a href="https://www.orthodoxcouncil.org/decisions/-/asset_publisher/f1JDEVkdg6TH/content/marriage/357453249a7.html?inheritRedirect=false">The Mystery of Marriage and Its Impediments</a>", I.10 and 4). It is noted at the same time that the members of the Church who enter into such forms of cohabitation must be treated with pastoral responsibility and love in Christ.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>From the Archsecretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://ec-patr.org/%e1%bc%80%ce%bd%ce%b1%ce%ba%ce%bf%ce%b9%ce%bd%cf%89%ce%b8%ce%ad%ce%bd-%cf%80%ce%b5%cf%81%ce%af-%ce%b8%ce%b5%cf%83%ce%bc%ce%bf%ce%b8%ce%b5%cf%84%ce%ae%cf%83%ce%b5%cf%89%cf%82-%ce%b3%ce%ac%ce%bc%ce%bf/">Source</a>: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-17508437976199165822024-01-23T15:02:00.009-05:002024-01-23T16:44:09.076-05:00Announcement by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece Regarding Homosexual Marriage and Adoption<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWN3U8zsS-WoC9OtszJgfdXKvK80M1wcGGRseLaFF1fElkPRWE6bywiFHln5wfmbjPhhQcdpZu4XyxdustJxDyfT9ugaB868Y_-XXjF3CBtKjnVhL6v2MkBD0aZySvvfkufevCgPDVOhaIyfglxlQhyphenhyphenPp4C3GYO7Rn7FDXyypBa2pSjgBqH4SmG8QzpsK/s770/ektakti-ierarxia-11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="770" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWN3U8zsS-WoC9OtszJgfdXKvK80M1wcGGRseLaFF1fElkPRWE6bywiFHln5wfmbjPhhQcdpZu4XyxdustJxDyfT9ugaB868Y_-XXjF3CBtKjnVhL6v2MkBD0aZySvvfkufevCgPDVOhaIyfglxlQhyphenhyphenPp4C3GYO7Rn7FDXyypBa2pSjgBqH4SmG8QzpsK/w640-h426/ektakti-ierarxia-11.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece convened in an emergency meeting, today, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, with the sole subject of the announced legislation on marriage and "adoption" in favor of same-sex couples.<br><br>After the customary prayer, the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy listened to the presentation of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, on which a dialogue followed, and unanimously expresses the positions of the Church of Greece on the matter, as follows:<br><br>1. The theology of the Church on marriage derives from Holy Scripture, the teaching of the Fathers of the Church and the arrangement of the Mystery of Marriage and is clearly seen in the Service of this Mystery.<br><br>The purpose of Christian marriage is the creation of a good marriage and family, the development of children as fruits of the love in Christ of the two spouses and their connection to ecclesiastical life.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2024/01/announcement-by-holy-synod-of-church-of.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-26335308283882282552023-12-21T12:07:00.008-05:002023-12-21T12:26:06.025-05:00The Two Sexes and "Sexual Orientations" -- "Same-sex Marriage" and "Adoption" (Two Short Pastoral Essays by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)<div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOFg_aFt22VEags8zOHz9BemMR3bZhXVTsNa_CTzc9O1w2NzyVZ82yqfrut4CqEBNS7RgxiZZoSIUarXzJZopXUeTuAcVMA6ScJSL1IMZL3JECHiiv6lQSn6kYea6job9H-hz7XeGeouJLGbn-xWDHXmlzh1inzrE7Hg5Fe9nuTYdo_e0XqWPYOVjaR4i/s640/%CE%9D%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%80%CE%AC%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-640x375.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="640" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOFg_aFt22VEags8zOHz9BemMR3bZhXVTsNa_CTzc9O1w2NzyVZ82yqfrut4CqEBNS7RgxiZZoSIUarXzJZopXUeTuAcVMA6ScJSL1IMZL3JECHiiv6lQSn6kYea6job9H-hz7XeGeouJLGbn-xWDHXmlzh1inzrE7Hg5Fe9nuTYdo_e0XqWPYOVjaR4i/w640-h376/%CE%9D%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%80%CE%AC%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-640x375.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> The Two Sexes and "Sexual Orientations"</b><br><br>November 29, 2023<br><br>By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>The Church is in conversation with the world, the people, near and far, with their concerns and their problems, yet within its theology, which is the <i>consensus patrum</i> (that is, the agreement of the Fathers, which was formulated in Synod) it also considers the data of today's science. Therefore, everyone should not have arbitrary and individual interpretations.<br><br>One of the topical issues that is discussed especially in our days is the topic of homosexuality and it is often sought, by those who ask us, to express the Church's teaching on this.<br><br>However, this topic is both simple and complex. It is simple, because when we refer to the creation of humans there are two sexes, male and female. And it is complex, because there are many and varied "sexual orientations", due to the passions and the differentiation of the movements of the psychic and somatic energies.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2023/12/the-two-sexes-and-sexual-orientations.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-43941859890311902002023-10-06T14:48:00.001-04:002023-10-06T14:48:20.426-04:00Sexuality and the Orthodox Church<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0Yhg0lMYBtHs6pAIQ5Rgs_QS2ePEiu2hHCDlHdxVchpCv0ZHsR35e7XW9CR_wXP1DPiNaCPXRzB7IqAd3CKOTwNzzIxeQpt2Cy8Si-ztN1a3l9UKvjAwmxoLJoD_eqiCFaM6wj3sTzCOCZowucIw0cDf9M_vWSjo6015AiTX7OZHruP_rj2J2nmXq-eE/s750/Gavriil-750x406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="750" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0Yhg0lMYBtHs6pAIQ5Rgs_QS2ePEiu2hHCDlHdxVchpCv0ZHsR35e7XW9CR_wXP1DPiNaCPXRzB7IqAd3CKOTwNzzIxeQpt2Cy8Si-ztN1a3l9UKvjAwmxoLJoD_eqiCFaM6wj3sTzCOCZowucIw0cDf9M_vWSjo6015AiTX7OZHruP_rj2J2nmXq-eE/w640-h346/Gavriil-750x406.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> By Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalkidona<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>There is a lot of talk about new forms of family and new definitions of human relationships, about people's sexual choices and directions. The prevailing reason is for the personal rights of all people, for the absolute freedom to choose partners, but there is also the shallow sexuality that leads to brief pleasures.<br><br>We easily place labels on everything that we find difficult for us, on everything that does not agree with us, such as e.g. "racist", "liberal", "immoral", "conservative", "homophobic", etc. Nowhere, however, is the label "human"!<br><br>In Orthodox theology, things are absolutely clear. "Male and female did God create them" (Gen. 1:27). In Cana of Galilee, Christ blessing the marriage (Jn. 2:1-11) we come across a family relationship between man and woman, with the aim of uniting the two in one body and their common path to heaven, without of course the condition of childbearing, as many mistakenly believe.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2023/10/sexuality-and-orthodox-church.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-30713198385559314852023-06-16T11:16:00.011-04:002023-10-06T15:28:19.417-04:00Statement of the Church of Cyprus on the Criminalization of Sexual Orientation and Gender Conversion Therapies<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0W1juQDrnaZKADZlxWzKfla9MhVQMUGT-kIDYVs_eucnihZbmKSXFtI-0ES0r4H1QbOiGIm7wzOQXiE_EXrYRB7lE4HNz-oHWxXBvNWOrKJm3Ujyrqxx2O8OaXS4O0DwU4naM-uTBxEoPDLxFrZ1wYmpclR0Vn8D82I4jws1ABLtHrDLdmaLafXgHQ/s640/cyprus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="640" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0W1juQDrnaZKADZlxWzKfla9MhVQMUGT-kIDYVs_eucnihZbmKSXFtI-0ES0r4H1QbOiGIm7wzOQXiE_EXrYRB7lE4HNz-oHWxXBvNWOrKJm3Ujyrqxx2O8OaXS4O0DwU4naM-uTBxEoPDLxFrZ1wYmpclR0Vn8D82I4jws1ABLtHrDLdmaLafXgHQ/w640-h336/cyprus.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over a year ago, the activist group Accept-LGBTI Cyprus surveyed around 100 people and revealed that conversion therapies for sexual orientation or gender identity are still being carried out in Cyprus. According to this report, it found that<br><br>1. A victim was forced by a priest to kneel in front of a statue of Jesus Christ and apologize for having sinned.<br><br>2. Another was forced by an endocrinologist to take a course of testosterone (male sex hormones) because the doctor said he was too effeminate.<br><br>3. Another was exorcised by a priest.<br><br>4. Some people had attempted suicide following the so-called therapies.<br><br>This prompted lawmakers to propose a ban on all forms of conversion therapies for sexual orientation and gender identity, and make it a crime if any attempt is made at such conversion therapies.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2023/06/statement-of-church-of-cyprus-on.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-13923430918163520592022-07-12T11:52:00.000-04:002022-07-12T11:52:14.837-04:00On Cremation of the Dead (St. Paisios the Athonite)<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdx6VmQ5K0wtq4cBWHiR0JafvGLes5rwhjvAYA3So0VCFVuOe12XOd9C_KxHMxQ9378j951sVPxej8UMrTVZ8pFj3fg_SXyn4eFSRKBl_LDHyWNf1KO64nEI5w3JFpjM4hh5V4160ZwAK9t4NkZUKUXEkmn-bgr2mCxtFFe1pOFYWjM4QUTlSjqgXCw/s600/paisios2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdx6VmQ5K0wtq4cBWHiR0JafvGLes5rwhjvAYA3So0VCFVuOe12XOd9C_KxHMxQ9378j951sVPxej8UMrTVZ8pFj3fg_SXyn4eFSRKBl_LDHyWNf1KO64nEI5w3JFpjM4hh5V4160ZwAK9t4NkZUKUXEkmn-bgr2mCxtFFe1pOFYWjM4QUTlSjqgXCw/w400-h240/paisios2.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Saint Paisios the Athonite said the following about cremation:</i> <br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Someone came here, a University professor, and he told me that they are seriously considering burning the bones of the dead, because there is no room.<br><br>"Look," I said to him, "why isn't there room? Thessaloniki has so many forests! The whole of Chortiatis! Fill a cemetery, after 3-4 years, you make another one further down. Why have they filled the mountains everywhere with apartment buildings?"<br><br>He also told me that it is from a hygiene point of view! What do you mean from the point of view of hygiene, while you have polluted the whole world, you have polluted the sea in Thessaloniki and elsewhere, while the bones are washed and cleaned! Have a little respect. But they want to degrade people, to make them worth nothing, to tear them from their roots, from their ancestors, from their tradition, to leave them alone and desolate, to destroy their memory, their connection with their predecessors, with the values and life of their ancestors, in order to then do whatever they want with various theories that pull them here and there. They go to spread atheism. Someone has died? Oh well, they're gone!<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2022/07/on-cremation-of-dead-st-paisios-athonite.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-55205421648520199332022-04-12T13:29:00.009-04:002022-04-12T13:35:47.306-04:00The Sin of War - Our Only Enemy Is Death<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9svrm8L8_PciRwB_QewEBv71NCWVaOwZS1ehMLyx3NtfU3Wr-6OV3yZR2ELXUw-0q_q7irAg2lx9TsNu5n0OptZw2xPsQaMdLdf8K-Yl5RveUzQdVLgCvSDSBId4hL58QoPkxmtRGRsPlVRRlJKS8DqaxYHitLjj8RFORgxZrpc1xZxctYYlQ9A9dw/s960/Archimandrite%20Hariton%20Symeonides%20of%20the%20Greek%20Orthodox%20Church%20-%20Holy%20Water%20Blessing%20with%20Greek%20Soldiers%20during%20the%20Korean%20War..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="960" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9svrm8L8_PciRwB_QewEBv71NCWVaOwZS1ehMLyx3NtfU3Wr-6OV3yZR2ELXUw-0q_q7irAg2lx9TsNu5n0OptZw2xPsQaMdLdf8K-Yl5RveUzQdVLgCvSDSBId4hL58QoPkxmtRGRsPlVRRlJKS8DqaxYHitLjj8RFORgxZrpc1xZxctYYlQ9A9dw/w640-h414/Archimandrite%20Hariton%20Symeonides%20of%20the%20Greek%20Orthodox%20Church%20-%20Holy%20Water%20Blessing%20with%20Greek%20Soldiers%20during%20the%20Korean%20War..jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Protopresbyter Fr. Thomas Bambinis<br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Sin of War</b><br><br>War is a great temptation for the consciences of the faithful. It extinguishes love. They identify it with selfishness, at best they subjugate it to national selfishness. Of course, the battles that take place in defensive wars are not only inevitable, they are also just, but even in these just wars, all the darkness of people is easily manifested, as well as, of course, all of the brilliant greatness of those who struggle on behalf of the just, the sacred and the freedom of their people with selflessness and self-denial, without obvious hatred for the aggressors.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2022/04/the-sin-of-war-our-only-enemy-is-death.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-44113936562302882732022-02-28T11:20:00.004-05:002022-02-28T15:28:54.113-05:00 War and the Orthodox Church (George Mantzarides)<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikc-6idrNCnGKRwtIeSrEIrnmrNdF36vdo82rrlwkOEFpfT_pDNB9K-uiFg6V3_hWURNX7jOlrK4bRkqGDf7mpzrP5rp8ZTr_N1zoXbwAWxe1MCRdeo9csxFZZDQDf1hIr6vOn4g36xa5_NE75V4kBmFoLB-saqk9joUg3H3FsvpQcPY3R7PQ_3stVbw=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1200" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikc-6idrNCnGKRwtIeSrEIrnmrNdF36vdo82rrlwkOEFpfT_pDNB9K-uiFg6V3_hWURNX7jOlrK4bRkqGDf7mpzrP5rp8ZTr_N1zoXbwAWxe1MCRdeo9csxFZZDQDf1hIr6vOn4g36xa5_NE75V4kBmFoLB-saqk9joUg3H3FsvpQcPY3R7PQ_3stVbw=w640-h314" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By George Mantzarides,<br>Professor Emeritus of the Theological School of the </div><div style="text-align: center;">Aristotle University of Thessaloniki<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>War,
as an armed and bloody conflict of organized groups, is one of the most
serious and distressing problems of man, especially in our time. The
experience of the two world wars, the endless series of military
engagements that followed them, but also the existence of terrifying
means of destruction, which can wipe out hundreds of times not only the
human race, but also every trace of civilization from the face of the
earth, is enough to reveal the magnitude of the problem.<br><br>Heraclitus
argued that war was the "father of all." This view remains with small
variations strong to this day. Many even observe that peace is a form of
war, waged with politics or economics. On the contrary, for the Church
the "Father of all" is not war, but the God of peace (2 Cor. 13:11). And
the coming of God into the world is a gospel of peace (Luke 2:14).<br><br><span></span></div></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2022/02/war-and-orthodox-church-george.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-7729557183962748392021-10-14T11:54:00.011-04:002021-10-14T12:03:53.310-04:00The Burning Issue of Euthanasia <div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSVK5De44hHbrij74cB4-RY1clb_l8DMIW2-u5eHS6qP4sThwSeG1hmvtqIWaxKhDld4XpS6VBYU6Pk-nIe7pIMqfft6FOBFJOR__G5TKMp6WvkOtMxG9_m4QF7a2_eaLgoF-pyBtrtot2zPaU3u4f3xvw_IHbllCXs15cxO7eL5cHN7FEKKEWeSNshw=s972" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="972" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSVK5De44hHbrij74cB4-RY1clb_l8DMIW2-u5eHS6qP4sThwSeG1hmvtqIWaxKhDld4XpS6VBYU6Pk-nIe7pIMqfft6FOBFJOR__G5TKMp6WvkOtMxG9_m4QF7a2_eaLgoF-pyBtrtot2zPaU3u4f3xvw_IHbllCXs15cxO7eL5cHN7FEKKEWeSNshw=w400-h225" width="400"></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Archdeacon Raphael Misiaoulis <br>of the Sacred Metropolis of Tamasos and Oreinis <br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past year, and not only, we have seen in the media the issue of euthanasia being discussed by various people and whether a dialogue should be opened on this issue.<br><br>Euthanasia as a subject is not easily accessible and this is because both as a concept and much more its transformation into action, leads the individual to dilemmas and controversial situations.<br><br>The term "euthanasia" is a term that is purely related to medical science and refers to the cessation of life through the help of a doctor, in order to redeem the person suffering from the pain of their illness and to reach a calm end.<br><br>On the contrary, in ancient times, as already mentioned, euthanasia was the good and calm death or the glorious death on the battlefield.<br><br><span></span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2021/10/the-burning-issue-of-euthanasia.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-39069958095480549762021-09-25T16:52:00.006-04:002021-09-25T17:00:41.760-04:00Thoughts on World Contraception Day (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46jrAo87o_vGfc6BggLZ-wpTPxmVFyeFNJhNUnR5CABXkbRDe0X1I27mu_8B5R-07-2d0v2PTmaRXmwXlSVbF7UI5LYXAPw-soKx_rpeGxq59qxJEN4cr9TU6Dv_MacJcRD4ovNeHvPzu/s260/v4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46jrAo87o_vGfc6BggLZ-wpTPxmVFyeFNJhNUnR5CABXkbRDe0X1I27mu_8B5R-07-2d0v2PTmaRXmwXlSVbF7UI5LYXAPw-soKx_rpeGxq59qxJEN4cr9TU6Dv_MacJcRD4ovNeHvPzu/w320-h320/v4.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>Unfortunately we live in a secular society, even if it is called and self-described as Christian. And of course this Christianity is also secularized.<br><br>Within this perspective is the disregard of the daily Christian feasts, in which our Saints are featured by the Church, who are models for our lives and for holiness, and there are other holidays that refer to human life, and in fact to events that are not inspired by the commandments of Christ.<br><br>Among the many celebrated <i>world days</i> is "World Contraception Day".* People have established a world day, in which the contraception of the child will be "celebrated", that is, the human desire to feel pleasure, but without the birth of children, which is the continuation of life.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2021/09/thoughts-on-world-contraception-day.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110397627857802360.post-81574235726465601082019-08-29T13:18:00.011-04:002021-09-25T16:17:37.726-04:00"Give Heed To Thyself" (A Homily of St. Basil the Great)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ1vl6TMuCmPiiX2v9LwG9GxuHErSyAgki9LFpSLHrADR9HxF4K8DBozhj6_mBNQwSKhCQZOXkKCTTpc7cwtCJc7nRPxsSucHEU-Xmnd0gRlHYRu0LyARTdSmfMdjeMZlABEhtfF_NfUd/s1600/basil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ1vl6TMuCmPiiX2v9LwG9GxuHErSyAgki9LFpSLHrADR9HxF4K8DBozhj6_mBNQwSKhCQZOXkKCTTpc7cwtCJc7nRPxsSucHEU-Xmnd0gRlHYRu0LyARTdSmfMdjeMZlABEhtfF_NfUd/s400/basil.jpg" width="295"></a></div><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;">For St. Basil, "Know Thyself" (Gnothi Seauton) is closely connected with "Give Heed to Thyself" (Proseche Seauton), for you cannot know yourself unless you guard yourself, and you cannot guard yourself unless you know yourself. The origins of this saying is in Deuteronomy 4:9, which says: "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life." Know Thyself and Give Heed to Thyself are so closely connected, that some Church Fathers believed the ancient Greek maxim had its origins in Moses and in Solomon, who says: "If thou know not thyself, thou fair one among women, go thou forth by the footsteps of the flocks, and feed thy kids by the shepherd’s tents" (Song of Songs 1:8).</span></div><br>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b></b></div><a href="http://www.gnothiseauton.org/2019/08/give-heed-to-thyself-homily-of-st-basil.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com