BKKAHZIA I.0.X. EAAAAOE IEPA MHTPOMOAIS HATPQN 0d65 Ocarty}rov &Q. 11, AVOEta 263 32 TIATPAI HELLAS (GREECE) TA: +30) 2610 314250 Ref No. 100 Sydney, 20" December, 2016 eccl. cal. ENCYCLICAL OF CLARIFICATION TO All the Clergy and Brothers and Sisters, of the Metropolis of Patra and the Holy Archdiocese of GOC of Australia. Most Honorable Fathers, and Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Rejoice in the Lord always. As you may recall, with my informatory encyclical Ref. No. 87, titled “Eynucqotuy ‘Eyxtxhtog”, date 30 May 2016 eccl. cal., I had informed you regarding a publication of the Holy Synod titled “Atéyyedpc” (Proclamation). This publication was discussed at the meeting of the Holy Synod on the 24" May 2016 eccl. cal. and relates to the so called “Great Synod” of the Ecumenists, which at that time was scheduled to assemble during June 2016. Chapter 6 of this Proclamation of the Holy Synod mentions the followin; “That which our memorable Fathers kept, namely, the Genuine Orthodox Faith and the Orthodox praxis (activity) stemming from this, which is the Sacred Deposit of the Spiritual life committed to our trust, for the healing of our fallen and diseased nature, this we too are obliged to keep. An integral element of this Faith and praxis is the forbiddance of whatsoever participation of genuine Christians in liturgical assemblies, sacramental activities and joint prayers with any heretic, such as New-calendarists - Ecumenists and in general anyone broken-off from the body of Christ's Church In saying this, we do not mean that we must estrange ourselves from our fellow men, refraining from all forms of relationships, whether family, social or business, but we speak specifically concerning our participation in their liturgical and omnifarious “ecclesiastical” assemblies, because, as Saint Theodore the Studite states regarding those who commune with heretics: “As for the others (ie. those not in agreement with heretics), even if in their thinking they did not founder, nevertheless, because of their communion with heresy (heretics) they are perishing.” (Saint Theodore the Studite P.G. 99, 1176 & 1164).2 In the second paragraph of the above citation of the Synodical Proclamation a certain mistake had crept in that, when examined carefully, is found to be serious and must therefore be corrected. What is the error? Written in the Synodical Proclamation is “In saying this (that is, prohibited is any kind of participation in the religious assemblies of heretics and schismatics) we do not mean that we must estrange ourselves from our fellow men, refraining from all forms of relationships, whether family, social or business, but we speak specifically concerning our participation in their liturgical and omnifarious “ecclesiastical” assemblies”. This wording in the Synodical Proclamation leads one to conclude that joint prayer is not prohibited when performed at our religious assemblies or at neutral venues even. It is well known that the Holy Canons prohibit joint prayer with heretics and schismatic and in general those outside the Orthodox Church everywhere and anywhere, without the specific limitation of “their liturgical assemblies”. Moreover, the 10" Apostolic Canon legislates “If any one shall pray, even in a private house, with an excommunicated person, let him also be excommunicated.” The 45'" Apostolic Canon adds saying “Let any Bishop, or Presbyter, or Deacon that merely joins in prayer with heretics be suspended, but if he has permitted them to perform any service as Clergymen, let him be deposed [from office)”. And the 6° Canon of the Laodicean Synod orders “It is not permitted for heretics to enter the house of God while they continue in heresy.” It is therefore clear and evident that the abovementioned position of the Synodical Proclamation is not only a small mistake, but also contradicts and nullifies the Church Canons, both Apostolic and those of the Ecumenical Synods, concerning joint prayer with heretics and schismatics and in general those outside the Orthodox Church. Such a position is not only unacceptable, but brings canon law and spiritual ramifications upon those who are accepting, adopting or applying it. For this reason, last October at the meeting of the Holy Synod I raised the issue of having this serious error corrected, but no positive decision was made, nor do I know whether the Bishops who participated in that meeting had or have the willingness to proceed in having this serious error corrected Because this necessary correction was not made, neither did I sign the document, namely the Proclamation of the Holy Synod. The Proclamation document being distributed indeed carries my name, yet I am not a signatory to it, nor is the Elder Metropolitan of Argolis Pachomios and, if I am not mistaken, nor the Metropolitan of Veroia and Naoussa Tarasios. Seeing that every Bishop is personally accountable before God, the Church and the immortal souls entrusted to him, I want to restate once again that, according to the Holy Canons and the ecclesiastical order3 committed to us, no spiritual communion or joint prayer whatsoever is permitted with heretics and schismatics and in general those outside the Orthodox Church anywhere and always, even if they be followers of the old calendar, or pious and lovers of God. This is not my own opinion or that of some predecessor of mine, but an evangelical commandment, an apostolic decree and a holy-synodic decision which also foresees consequences for the violator of the commandment. And as I mentioned above, the apostolic decree foresees “If any one shall pray, even in a private house, with an excommunicated person, let him also be excommunicated.” I believe that everyone understands that the consequences of the apostolic decree are not left to the strict or lenient “discretion” of the Cleric-Spiritual Father, but are imposed automatically by Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Leader of the Church, the Precious Head that directs, oversees and governs all the members of the Body. The “be excommunicated” (which means: to be cut off from the precious Body of Christ) does not await the spiritual or lenient judgment of the spiritual father to be enforced. The spiritual father, if he be a good spiritual physician, will correctly diagnose the illness of the Christian who is ailing because of joint prayer with those outside the Orthodox Church, and will prescribe or apply the appropriate therapy, for the restoration of the spiritual health of the sick person and subsequent restoration of his communion with the Body of Christ. The “maybe” which the Egyptian monk spoke to the Jew brought about the automatic blackening of the Monastic’s soul and body. His Elder, being a good physician, did nothing more than simply diagnose the illness and prescribe the appropriate therapy. For this reason, Beloved Brothers and Sisters, no prayer whatsoever is permitted with heretics, schismatics and in general those outside the Orthodox Church. Nor are Orthodox Christians permitted to attend the “religious” assemblies or events of those outside the Orthodox Church, be it new-calendarists or others, as is correctly stated in the Synodical Proclamation of May 2016. And moreover, nor are Orthodox Christians permitted to accept at their ecclesiastical assemblies and services those who are outside the Orthodox Church, necessity dictating that this be pointed out and made clear, so that the consequences and enforcement of the apostolic and holy-synodic decree be avoided. Therefore, the answer is negative to the two questions I was asked by two Christians regarding this issue. Neither is the old and respected uncle, a new-calendarist priest, permitted to bless the table at the house of the Orthodox nephew, though he has a long beard and long hair, just like an Orthodox priest, because according to the Holy Canons, this constitutes joint prayer with those outside the Orthodox Church, and in consequence separates one from the Body of Christ. Equally, nor is the wife’s father, a4 chanter at an old-calendar group that is not part of the Orthodox Church, permitted to read the prayers of the Small Compline when he comes to the house of his Orthodox son-in-law to visit the family, even if the children of the family, who respect and love their grandfather, like this, because according to the Holy Canons, this too constitutes joint prayer with those outside the Orthodox Church and carries foreseen spiritual consequence, even though the consequences may go unseen for the time being. Though both the abovementioned instances pass unforeseen by the Synodical Proclamation, since neither is an example of participation in the religious assemblies of those outside the Orthodox Church, nevertheless such joint prayer is clearly prohibited by the Holy Canons and carries appropriate spiritual consequences. These things I am obliged to inform you, Beloved Brothers and Sisters, out of love and responsibility for the salvation of your souls. | am not aiming to introduce difficulties into your social and family relationships, but to show and remind you the commandments of Christ and His Church, that you may know them, and observe them, and in doing so maintain your soul in communion with the Body of Christ, and have God’s Grace and blessing in your life, and be worthy children of our All-Gracious God; yeah, humble strugglers in the will of God and the Orthodox Faith and Confession. The concessions which some people are promising for facilitating the meeting of social obligations and family needs of the Christians according to the will of the world, are dangerous games that place in jeopardy both the soul’s salvation and the spiritual progression of the Faithful towards God's Kingdom. It is as if we are not informing the sick man of the seriousness of his illness, nor providing him the appropriate therapy. This, however, makes certain that the sick man’s illness will lead him to his death. The same applies with things spiritual. Communion with those outside the Orthodox Church leads to spiritual death. Thus, we keep on struggling and praying that all our spiritual children carry on keeping the commandments of Christ with patience and exactness, so that they continue progressing along the path of salvation and arrive at the Kingdom of Heaven, to the eternal glory of our Trinns See Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. HC “With \iniuch love and prayer that is in Christ te Weav Gloer\abre4 4Bishop Efstathios _- Metropolitan of Patra and Acta Riatipeat the Holy Archdiocese of G.O.C. of Australia