The Specter of Fundamentalism Raising its Ugly Head at the Recent Clergy-Laity Congress and Spewing out the Venom of Hate and Intolerance in Vitriolic, Fanatical Fashion, Evidencing a Lack of Love and Christian Behavior

The National Herald, November 1, 1998

Archbishop Spyridon has associated himself with three controversial religious figures in America. Metropolitan Paisios and Bishop Vikentios head the Old Calendar Greek Orthodox Church of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, with headquarters in Astoria, New York. Bishop Vikentios, who is not a hierarch of the Archdiocese, was recently convicted of defaming a fellow hierarch and sentenced to a nine month prison term in Greece, has been called on by Archbishop Spyridon to represent the Archdiocese at numerous functions throughout the New York area, and was recently appointed as Hierarchical Vicar of the Cultural Center of the Archdiocese [see "U.S. Bishop Sentenced to Prison by Greek Court" in the July 4, 1998 National Herald at www.voithia.org/qmpnh070498f.htm]. At Yale University this past May, members of the student body objected to the Ecumenical Patriarch’s awarding of an honorary degree because of his associations with Paisios and Vikentios, who have openly made anti-Semitic remarks [see "Honorary Degree Recipient Criticized: Patriarch Bartholomew made Friends with anti-Semitic Schismatics" in the May 25, 1998 Yale Daily News (Click here to read it at http://www.voithia.org/qmpYDN1.htm)].

Archbishop Spyridon is also an ardent supporter of Fr. Ephraim, whose ministry has reached legendary proportions. Much of his following is comprised of zealots who enthusiastically admit their devotion to Fr. Ephraim, somehow forgetting that Christ is the focal point of being an Orthodox Christian and it is His teachings we adhere to and follow. Indeed, we are followers of Christ, not of St. George, St. Andrew, Archangel Michael, and certainly not of Fr. Ephraim. In most instances, this type of mindset would be characterized as a cult, yet we are told by his spiritual children, who include Fr. George Passias, who serves as the Chancellor, Director of the Office of the Archbishop, and Chairman of the Finance Department, and Fr. Ganas, who serves as President of the Theological Seminary, that the practices of Fr. Ephraim represent the true form of Orthodoxy. Some of these practices include women cloaking their heads in Church and not allowing women to venerate an icon or receive Holy Communion when menstruating. The Ecumenical Patriarch addressed this pressing issue in his sermon at the St. Anthony Monastery in Arizona. He condemned this type of extremism and reaffirmed his devotion to a healthy Orthodox Church.

These types of fundamentalism threaten our very foundation. Fundamentalism breeds hatred and paranoia. Our Church cannot afford to tolerate such distortions of the true faith.