On Nuclear Restraint and Responsibility (Fr. George Florovsky)

 

Georges Florovsky: Letter to Davis McCaughey

Florovsky, Georges ; Obolevitch, Teresa

Studies in East European Thought, 2025-02, Vol.77 (1), p.225-229

 

Abstract

The letter from Georges Florovsky to Davis McCaughey is a reflection after reading the Report The Era of Atomic Power: Report of a Commission (1946). Florovsky gives his own arguments against the development of research concerning nuclear weapons and their use. These include: treating an attempt at a technical transformation of the world as a human claim to put oneself in God’s place, i.e., to be a God-man. Another group of indictments against the use of the atomic bomb concerned ethical issues and human responsibility for the war. Florovsky’s letter is his contribution to the discussion on the threat posed by the atomic bomb.

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Self-Love: The Passion of our Time (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The whole debate about homosexuals and their "marriage" that is taking place nowadays has primarily highlighted, among other things, the passion of self-love. Of course, this does not only apply to homosexuals, but also to heterosexuals, when they place as the center of their lives the irrational and excessive love for their body, and limit themselves only to instincts, misrecognizing the whole human being. This in the patristic tradition of the Church is called self-love.

The word "self-love" (filautia - φιλαυτία) in modern language is interpreted as "the excessive love for oneself," "egomania," in contrast to the love for others (filallilia - φιλαλληλία). However, in the patristic tradition, self-love is not considered as love for ourselves, but as excessive love for our body with the satisfaction of all its demands and pleasures.

Interview With Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos on the Same-Sex Marriage Bill in Greece

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.

Below are excerpts of what His Eminence said in the telephone interview:

Metropolitan Hierotheos, with his deeply theological words and his always substantiated opinion, said the following referring to the passing of the bill:

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos Speaks to Press on the Announcement of the Church of Greece on Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption

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.

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."

When asked if the love of the Church also concerns people who have a different sexual preference and live with their partner, he answered:

Announcement by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Greece

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 "The Mystery of Marriage and Its Impediments", 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.

From the Archsecretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.