5. “A clarification from His Beatitude Archbishop Makarios of Athens and All Greece concerning Archb. Gregory of Colorado”, (Greek original with English translation).
CHURCH OF G.O.C. OF GREECE
SACRED ARCHDIOCESE OF ATHENS
32 Kanigos str. – 4th floor – p.o 8122 ATHENS 10010 GREECE
Tel. 2103814087 – FAX 2103812133
Protocol No.: 292 Athens, January 7, 2008 (O.S.)
FOR
The All-venerable Archimandrite
Nikiforos Groce, Synodical Epitropos in the U.S.A.
Dear son of my mediocrity in the Lord, All-venerable Fr. Nikiforos, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
To answer the letter you sent me on December 29, 2007 (O.S.) and your inquiries to me concerning “Archbishop” Mr. Gregory, know the following:
It is a complete lie that Mr. Gregory has sacramental communion with our Sacred Synod.
Our Sacred Synod during 2006 and also again during 2007 rejected petitions concerning the above mentioned application-wish of his.
It is also a complete lie that with my blessing and approval he “received” (with whose authority and by what means?!), the completely unknown to me, Ukrainian bishop Mr. Ambrose. Simply put, for a long time Mr. Gregory asked only my personal opinion, with letters and persistent telephone calls concerning the way he should “receive” Mr. Ambrose. From the beginning I did not consider Mr. Gregory’s question a serious one, believing that only a Synod of Bishops can accomplish something like this and not simply one bishop alone. Therefore, after the continuing annoyances from Mr. Gregory, the only thing I did tell him was that certainly he first needed a statement of true faith. I never said or meant that only the confession of faith was adequate neither that he had my blessing to “receive” him! Neither would I ever give him this without the Synodical opinion of my fellow holy Bishops!
I am astounded at the cunning and the apparent mendacity of Mr. Gregory, which are not fitting for a bishop, as well as for the illegal taping of telephone conversations which is – at least in Greece – prosecuted by the law.
Finally, once and for all, as such also from the referring November 16/29, 2007 Declaration of the Press Office of our Sacred Synod, our Sacred Synod is not having any sacramental relations with the aforementioned Archbishop Gregory since 2001, when he uncanonically seceded from our Sacred Synod, and never gave approval or blessing for the ordination or reception of anyone under the lost and peculiar Mr. Gregory for whom we bear no responsibility concerning his actions.
Likewise I personally never attempted anything similar, every opposing slander when necessary should be repelled and silenced also by showing this letter.
The Archbishop
[Seal] [Signature]
+Of Athens and All Greece
MAKARIOS