“Is the Church worse than a supermarket and hair salon?”—Met. Hierotheos (Vlachos)

Nafpaktos, Greece, April 28, 2020

Screenshot from skaitv.gr Screenshot from skaitv.gr     

“What is the Church? Is it a union? Is it a supermarket? Is it a hair salon after all? Is it worse than the supermarket and worse than the hair salon?” Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos, the spokesman for the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, asked with exasperation at the state’s announcement that the churches would not reopen for services in the near future.

“I look forward to a return not only to normality, but also to ecclesiasticalism,” the metropolitan said, commenting on the gradual lifting of the present restrictions for SKAI TV, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.

“Since the problem is overcrowding, we will take all the necessary measures, we will do what they have instructed us to do,” Met. Hierotheos emphasized.

Government officials earlier announced that the request of Archbishop Ieronymos and the Eparchial Synod of Crete would not be satisfied at this time, but that the churches could be opened in the first round of the relaxation of restrictions only for private prayers. The state could not say when the faithful would be allowed to return to the Divine services.

“What is the Church for them? What is the Church? Is it a union? Is it a supermarket?... Is it worse than the supermarket? Is it worse than the hair salon? What is the Church? Isn't it a Divine organization that has a tradition of twenty centuries and was functioning even before the state?” Met. Hierotheos asked rhetorically.

He also confessed that felt a real sense of disappointment when he was informed of the state’s decision.

“Second, what is the Divine Liturgy, in the end? Is it just a gathering of a few people? Of course, we accept that. But isn’t it something higher? Is the Divine Liturgy folklore?” the Synodal spokesman continued.

He also wondered what the extent of power and authority should be.

The Church was willing to accept individual prayer for a while, and even at the holiest time of the Church year, “but if this continues, we must say that we are Orthodox Christians, not Protestants,” His Eminence said.

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4/28/2020

See also
Greek, Cretan Synods call for reopening of churches, one hierarch declares churches open in face of state’s double standard Greek, Cretan Synods call for reopening of churches, one hierarch declares churches open in face of state’s double standard Greek, Cretan Synods call for reopening of churches, one hierarch declares churches open in face of state’s double standard Greek, Cretan Synods call for reopening of churches, one hierarch declares churches open in face of state’s double standard
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While the Greek Orthodox Church has officially petitioned the state to at least allow clergy to celebrate Holy Week and Paschal services behind closed doors, the Holy Synod decided yesterday to transfer the public celebration of Pascha to the leavetaking of the feast on the night of May 26-27, by which time, God-willing, the churches will have reopened. Greek Metropolitan of Chicago who canceled diocesan services leads ecumenical prayer with Catholics and Protestants (+VIDEO) Greek Metropolitan of Chicago who canceled diocesan services leads ecumenical prayer with Catholics and Protestants (+VIDEO) Greek Metropolitan of Chicago who canceled diocesan services leads ecumenical prayer with Catholics and Protestants (+VIDEO) Greek Metropolitan of Chicago who canceled diocesan services leads ecumenical prayer with Catholics and Protestants (+VIDEO)
Last week, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America of the Patriarchate of Constantinople led an ecumenical prayer service with the Catholic Cardinal and Evangelical Lutheran bishop of Chicago. Greek Metropolitan of Mesogaia to authorities: Even the soviets didn’t ban worship behind closed doors Greek Metropolitan of Mesogaia to authorities: Even the soviets didn’t ban worship behind closed doors Greek Metropolitan of Mesogaia to authorities: Even the soviets didn’t ban worship behind closed doors Greek Metropolitan of Mesogaia to authorities: Even the soviets didn’t ban worship behind closed doors
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Comments
Chuckling at some people.5/3/2020 4:55 am
The comment by Fr. Jacobus made me chuckle a little bit. Perhaps Fr. Jacobus can explain to us how the Russian faithful did Easter this year? Perhaps he can explain to us how every other Russian Orthodox branch in Western Europe and the Orthodox Church in America celebrated Easter this year. I chuckle, because we all know their flock sat home and watched their services online just like we did. All this talk of some supposed "divine justice" is amusing. Perhaps the good father either doesn't know what he is talking about or he is imagining some sort of moral victory over the lawless flock of Constantinople, to make himself feel a little better after the disaster in Jordan. I strongly suspect the latter being the case. Don't worry Fr. Jacobus, coronavirus or not, we lawless applauders of Constantinople have not forgotten about you either.
John4/29/2020 5:08 am
Christ is Risen! I thank God, and met. Hierotheos for his wonderful catechism and books on Orthodox Psychology, The Mind of the Orthodox Church, et al. But he sold himself to the EP, and now has a new title and role for supporting him. He's a "sell-out." I guess he's finally getting the picture of the EP's 'global-political' attachments and subservience. Perhaps he'll repent and be a beacon to those once again searching for the true Church. Doxa to Theo. John
Johan LE Roux4/28/2020 8:38 pm
Meneer van der Riet!!!! Goeienaand!!! Jy is van Suid Afrika ne???? Watter stad? Kaapstad of Johannesburg? Ek bly in Krugersdorp, daar by die Jakaranda bome!!!! Ons moet ontmoet een dag. Staal my jou ''e-mail'', en ons kan praat nog!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcfGRtr1u0g
Mikhail4/28/2020 7:29 pm
The Hierarchs and civil authorities have conspired to locked the people out of the Churches for many weeks...and this is the strongest statement he can make? I find myself disappointed once again. But of course, after he approved of the abomination of Bartholomew's attempted destruction of the UOC...I do not pay attention to much of what he has to say any longer.
Trunorth4/28/2020 6:15 pm
I agree with Fr Jacobus. Stand.
Menas 4/28/2020 5:18 pm
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again...maybe the Church of Greece will realize that the State is not its friend. Hopefully they also realize the level of secularization that has occurred in Greece and will fight to regain some of the ground it has lost
JW van der Riet4/28/2020 4:31 pm
with all due respect to Metr. Hierotheos, did it not bother him that UOC believers would not have services, once they were forcibly deprived of their churches by the so-called OCU and its Neo-Nazi supporters, with his blessing and that of the Synod of Greece? Now in God's providence, the UOC believers continue to have access to services in some form, and in fact all the believers who opposed this lawless recognition of the OCU, whereas those who applauded the lawlessness are deprived of services. Maybe it is divine justice, who knows? in the risen Christ, fr Jacobus
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