Orthodox response to Coronavirus / Great Reset

[Blade Runner]

Both. I imagine it is state dependent. I know some people that just deal with the mask thing but others have reported it is creepy (what I think, it scandalizes me). The entire situation is ridiculous and will at least be bad until the election, at least. I'm saddened as I find it to be something more deeply dividing us all, as well.

 

[Emperor Constantine]

I'm reading Eucharist, Bishop, Church by Metropolitan John Zizioulas, a study of ecclesiology in the early Church. He points out when St. Paul writes to a Eucharistic assembly, he calls it "the Church of God at _____" and ends the letter with a doxology. When he's writing to more than one Eucharistic assembly he calls them "Churches" in the plural, and he refers to the Christian community in general as "the saints."

The Church, the body of Christ, is manifest when we participate in the Eucharist. St. Paul explains it in 1 Cor. 10:16-17: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."

Not only was I blown away by how thoroughly the relationship between Church and Eucharist is woven into the New Testament, but it hit me why it's so wrong for us to shut our doors on Sunday mornings. Without the Eucharist, we're not the body of Christ. Rather, we're just the body of Christians. Masks, social distancing, and the like are all issues within the Church. But an empty parish on Sunday mornings isn't a problem within the Church, it's the absence of a Church.

The way forward:
1. Pray for my bishop.
2: If a parish I attend closes, contact my bishop and ask him to reconsider.

We can't blame the hierarchy if we don't pray for them or keep them accountable.

 

[ABeast]

It's strange for me as a novice trying to learn more about Orthodoxy (which is supposed to be the most "based" Christianity) to have many Orthodox congregations bowing to the Satanic COVID paranoia while some Protestant sects are resisting more vigorously. I am thinking in particular of a Black Baptist church that stayed open (with full-throated singing) and a "prosperity doctrine" pastor who is quite keen on resisting.

 

[Blade Runner]

Yes, it is curious that certain traits can lead to great theology but if you aren't careful can also get you trapped in a society or culture where things are coming down on you, but you tend to be less bold as an outward manifestation. I think orthodoxy in the modern, wealthy west is like this to a tremendous degree - I'm sad to say. The idea that Christianity should be more ecumenical has been a world movement and it has great influence on the current state of things. The really difficult question that constantly needs to be asked and debated is this very idea and how people have a tendency to be emotional/more feminine about it. That is, should Christians shun exclusivity? I personally don't think so since our history and liturgy has so many elements of being exclusive (catechumens, the doors!, eucharist, etc). These current crises actually show us that so many of our churches were watered down and the worries of the world are far more important for many members that perhaps we realized, or even thought possible. Of course, the retort will always be something along the lines of "Mercy" or "Economia" but - and this is my personality as a male and someone who would also be on this forum - what's the point of diminishing what you are so others can pretend they care?

People are very uncomfortable with this hard reality. I understand it, but for that reason I also think it should be discussed genuinely, and frequently.

 

[LukaJ]

Today, Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej passes away. The conclusion was jumped to that Covid-19 was the cause after he was tested positive 2 weeks ago. Here is a link from a (non trusted) source.

Serbia Mourns Aged Patriarch’s Death from COVID-19

Two weeks after it was confirmed he tested positive for the coronavirus, Patriarch Irinej has died aged 90 from complications related to COVID-19.

balkaninsight.com

 

[Mountaineer]

No-one dies from anything else now. The media will spin it this way but how did the church comment it?

In his public appearances, the leader of the influential Church, to which most Serbs belong, was very supportive of the political authorities, especially of President Aleksandar Vucic.
In October, the Church awarded President Vucic the Order of Saint Sava, first order, the highest decoration of the Church.
He criticised anti-government protests in Serbia in 2019 against President Vucic, saying that, “what we see in streets today is not good” and that, “it gives strength to our enemies”.
However, he also insisted that the Serbian Orthodox Church would oppose any deal reached between the Belgrade government and authorities in Kosovo, the former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, if it confirmed Kosovo remaining outside Serbian territory.

Not a good sign. And now he's dead from CV... This stinks.


This possibly explains why although he's biased.

 

[LukaJ]

Unfortunately, there are too many political ties. Also including the support for the lesbian Prime Minister. The only few people I have spoken to about this told me the same, and that the previous Patriarch was more supported by the people. He even used the light rails to commute.

 

[DanielH]

Visited an OCA parish near me because my local GOARCH parish isn't allowing people to come without registering anymore (this parish also made us register but there was still room for us). They gave communicants napkins that they would hold under their faces, then wipe up what was left of the Eucharist and throw it out into a paper Trader Joe's bag. Just about everyone did this except for me and my wife. They used multiple metal spoons and sanitized each spoon after use by dipping it in grain alcohol. They used two full cups of grain alcohol, so safe to assume they're not drinking it afterwards. They seem to heretically believe the Body and Blood of Christ will spread disease, not cure it. Even if they thought communion was just symbolic this would be a travesty. This church also had a female chanter who was wearing slacks, a male dress shirt, and no head covering. My wife and I were very upset by all this. I don't plan on returning.

 

[Hermetic Seal]

It is definitely alarming what's happening in GOARCH. I'm sure there are good parishes out there (like Father Barnabas Powell's, I doubt he's happy about any of this) but any newcomers to Orthodoxy would be better advised to visit any other jurisdiction instead if they're not a hundred miles away.

 

[budoslavic]

 

[DanielH]

Greek Church (not affiliated with the American Archdiocese) rejecting government orders to be closed on Theophany.

Greek govt: Comply with the measures – Church of Greece: Churches to remain open on Epiphany Day - Orthodox Times

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a brief conversation after the swearing-in of the new ministers and deputy ministers of the government. During the short conversation, it was found that both sides remained steadfast in their positions while they discussed...

orthodoxtimes.com

 

[Hermetic Seal]

Can we kick out GOARCH and replace them with GOCOG (Greek Orthodox Church Outside Greece)?

 

[UserUnavailable]

Has anybody here heard of Saint Paisios? He was/is still is a very known Orthodox (Greek) monk who resided on Mount Athos. He was granted the gift of performing great miracles on many, and is known for various prophecies.
In a book of his titled ‘Spiritual Counsels II: Spiritual Awakening’, he warns of a disease to come and a vaccine that will be obligatory.

 

[Lou212]

Has anybody here heard of Saint Paisios? He was/is still is a very known Orthodox (Greek) monk who resided on Mount Athos. He was granted the gift of performing great miracles on many, and is known for various prophecies.
In a book of his titled ‘Spiritual Counsels II: Spiritual Awakening’, he warns of a disease to come and a vaccine that will be obligatory.

This YouTube clip recaps that part of the book:


This is another good clip that goes over some vaccine warnings:

 

[presidentcarter]

Just reading this thread for the first time so sorry if this is a repost...but it seemed relevant to both today's cultural climate as well as this particular thread:

'And as St. Paisios says: When an individual sins, God punishes the individual, but when the government sins, God punishes the whole nation. I don’t know if it will take 10 years, or if it will take 50 years, but if America does not repent, then the nation will fall.'

US Orthodox Priest, Wife, and 8 Children Move to Russia (Rostov-the-Great) - Interview

This is a translation, exclusively for Russian Faith, of an interview which appeared in Today, a Russian news site, with Father Joseph Gleason, an Orthodox priest who moved to provincial Russia with his wife and 8 children, primarily in order to raise his family in an Orthodox Christian country...

russian-faith.com

 

[Blade Runner]

Does anyone have recommendations about how to navigate all of this with church attendance if one is anti-mask? Just keep going to the places where you are allowed to attend, even if it is a less common place for you to attend (truly be a part of that local community)? What happens when we have "many vaccinated" but then the bishops still don't lift this silly restriction and it continues? When a part of your identity is in many ways taken, it is a struggle, but I don't want it to be replaced by complacency either ... thanks for any advice from anyone still thinking on all of these topics and also trying to navigate it. Best to all

 

[Pdalion]

Curious what the forum thinks of this.
I was troubled by it but lack the understanding to clearly lay out why. It's always delicate when dealing with our spiritual leaders and I'm aware of the potential for pride in passing judgement on his position.
The only thing I can think of is that there were Saints who were incorrect on certain positions but were Saints nonetheless.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Encourages Faithful to be Vaccinated

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew had stern words on Tuesday for those who are skeptical of the coronavirus vaccine.

eu.greekreporter.com

 

[Hermetic Seal]

Curious what the forum thinks of this.
I was troubled by it but lack the understanding to clearly lay out why. It's always delicate when dealing with our spiritual leaders and I'm aware of the potential for pride in passing judgement on his position.
The only thing I can think of is that there were Saints who were incorrect on certain positions but were Saints nonetheless.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Encourages Faithful to be Vaccinated

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew had stern words on Tuesday for those who are skeptical of the coronavirus vaccine.

eu.greekreporter.com

The Ecumenical Patriarch is a farce, widely thought to be a CIA stooge, and nobody outside the Greek archdiocese (aside from fake Orthodox left-wing Fordhamite controlled opposition on Twitter) takes him or his toady-in-chief Elpidophoros seriously.

“The road to hell is paved with the skulls of erring priests, with bishops as their signposts.”

- St. John Chrysostom

 

[NickK]

This man is a mystery to me.

He says many things that are outrageous or outright heretical, yet when he presides in Divine Liturgy, it is filled with Grace such that I rrarely experience with other bishops.

I don't know what to make of it.

 

[Aboulia]

Does anyone have recommendations about how to navigate all of this with church attendance if one is anti-mask? Just keep going to the places where you are allowed to attend, even if it is a less common place for you to attend (truly be a part of that local community)? What happens when we have "many vaccinated" but then the bishops still don't lift this silly restriction and it continues? When a part of your identity is in many ways taken, it is a struggle, but I don't want it to be replaced by complacency either ... thanks for any advice from anyone still thinking on all of these topics and also trying to navigate it. Best to all

I have no idea what your parish is like, so I can't outline a definite plan. talk to your bishop/priest. Bring up your concerns, look to the lives of the early martyrs, what would they think? You should be familiar with their lives, pull some examples out. Appeal to the sacred space, if you are aware of the distinctions between the area. A mask should not be worn in the nave. How do you ask God not to hide his face from you, but hide your face from God. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? If I remember correctly, there's a Canon in the Fifth Ecumenical Council against the wearing of masks (its regarding carnival masks, but the whole world is a carnival right now) Do you not actually believe in your parish anything that's read/chanted during service? In the 7th Ode Heirmos of the Nativity service it says (from memory, so a few words may be off) Scorning the impious decree, the children brought up in godliness feared not the threat of fire, but standing in the midst of the flames they cried out "O God of our fathers blessed art thou." If that's not enough, listen to the Cherubic Hymn.