Why we Oppose
(Excerpts from the writings of Metr. Christophoros of Mesogeas”Patroa Efsevia“)
There are a lot whom they wonder, why should there be an interference between the Traditional Orthodox Christians ,or as the preservers of Paternal Dogma of the faith usually describe themselves ,”Paleoeortologites”(old-hagiologists)[1].Do these persons ,some wonder, consist some fanatical ,backward ,with limited perception people which they oppose every progress and so on they have created an independent Ecclesiastical group, in opposition of the many? The world -they say- moves forward, modernizes itself, why should it be considered wrong the evolution of the church? Why should we remain in manners of the past, when everything are being renovated?
These and other similar questions are expressed from many people, whom either their ecclesiastical knowledge they possess are limited, or they judge things superficially and count everything with the ballast of the world. Our Lord although show us the priorities that we have to put in our lives.” Ask –he says- firstly thekingdom of God…and everything will be added to you.”(Mathew 6:33), and “what will benefit a man if he wins (own) the entire world and he damage his own soul? Or what is the man going to exchange for his soul?”(Marcus 8:36-37) .
That is us the people, must have as first goal in our lives the salvation of our soul, the pursuit of the Heavenly Kingdom of God, to take care for the immortal, after this life, enjoyment. What if we manage ,in this finitude and short life we travel, to amass riches ,fame and pleasures ,things that we are not going to sustain after our death ,and which for some of them we damage our own soul? The drudgery to accumulate earthly commodities ,will not benefit us at all after our departure from this futile world we live on ,because after the grave everything are left behind and our souls continue to live, being poor ,without glory ,sad ,alone “being expended by the conscious”.
There are a lot whom they wonder, why should there be an interference between the Traditional Orthodox Christians ,or as the preservers of Paternal Dogma of the faith usually describe themselves ,”Paleoeortologites”(old-hagiologists)[1].Do these persons ,some wonder, consist some fanatical ,backward ,with limited perception people which they oppose every progress and so on they have created an independent Ecclesiastical group, in opposition of the many? The world -they say- moves forward, modernizes itself, why should it be considered wrong the evolution of the church? Why should we remain in manners of the past, when everything are being renovated?
Two qualifications exist for the assurance of the eternal enjoyment and delight. The truthful faith and the good labors. These two salvation terms, are interlinked. That is it is not enough to follow the correct faith and be limited in good deeds. Neither does it mean to be a good person with good deeds but being out of the truthful faith .Because both the first and the second occasions, lead in losing the soul.
And what shall we do someone might ask. The world today is cunning, survival difficult, people merciless. Only if we become unworldly, we will avoid the soul damaging influences of the world. But how can that be? Not to worry for the ensuring of our living needs? Not to take care for the accomplishment of our children? Of course not. These extremities are not a sample of Orthodox faith. To take care of our lives, our family ,our children ,is an essential care of every person, and of a Christian naturally but we will have to be careful ,so all these things to be accomplished, without bringing damaging consequences to our soul.
By putting forth the benefit of our soul ,we the faithful in the traditions of the Orthodox Church ,follow the faith that the holy fathers gave to us ,without any innovations and modernizations ,with the price a lot of times of being under persecution the deprivation of positions ,accepting loads of mockery remarks and the ironical criticism of those whom enjoy premiership and vain thrones .All these ,we counter –with the help of God- with tolerance and love, for the truthful Confession that we have been given and indicated to safeguard the Holy Fathers of our Church.
Alas, if in the two thousand years history of our church, would not have existed the Studites, the Fotii, the Marcus the Noble, and so many others, whom would have opposed the plotting against the Church and whom would have opposed the ambitious innovators of their own time. Alas, if only because of the benefit of the evolution, and every other modern ideas of the time, we had to tip over the Sacred and Holy of our Faith .Alas today nothing would be left today.