Greek Community of Toronto instigated ban on Communion, now Archdiocese has to help its destitute parishes

Toronto, February 20, 2021

The GCT's St. Irene Chrysavalantou Church. Photo: Facebook The GCT's St. Irene Chrysavalantou Church. Photo: Facebook     

In its “COVID-19 Guidance for Places of Worship” issued on June 20, the city of Toronto officially banned Holy Communion. But while the city itself enforced the regulation inconsistently, a total ban was temporarily instituted by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto at the instigation and insistence of the Greek Community of Toronto (GCT) charitable organization.

The GCT owns the four Greek Orthodox churches in the city of Toronto. After a parishioner of one of the churches made a complaint about the priest continuing to offer Holy Communion, a health inspector visited the Church of St. Demetrios and clarified that if parishioners continue to commune then fines will be issued. The GCT reported the matter to the Metropolis, and the next day, Metropolitan Sotirios decreed that priests not offer Holy Communion at all.

Then, on February 8, the GCT announced to its members that its overall revenues have dropped by 90% due to the pandemic. The organization is currently $4.5 million in debt and projects $2 million in lost earnings in 2021. An advisory committee determined that for the GCT survive, it would have to sell off one of its four churches.

“According to our constitution, as board of directors, we have a moral and legal obligation to preserve and promote the Greek Community of Toronto. We have weathered many storms in the past and thrived despite them. This current situation is unlike anything we have experienced in the past,” the GCT statement reads.

However, in a statement published this morning on Romfea, Archbishop Sotirios of Canada emphasizes that the Archdiocese will help the four churches pay their debts so that none of them will have to be sold.

The administration of the GCT made mistakes, he writes. Of the 16 Greek Orthodox churches in Greater Toronto, only the GCT’s four churches are struggling, however, no one should dwell on and judge these mistakes, but all should ban together as Greeks and Orthodox Christians to help strengthen the community, the Archbishop writes.

To accomplish this, Abp. Sotirios proposes establishing the Greek Community of Greater Toronto, with each parish becoming a separate community and legal entity, holding ownership over its own church and property.

“The churches were bought by Orthodox Christians to be preserved forever as places of worship,” the Archbishop writes.

And the Metropolis of Toronto will help the church’s pay off their debt, “perhaps up to the full amount of debt corresponding to each church, so that each community and its church can stand on its own two feet,” the Archbishop affirms.

In conclusion, he calls upon the Orthodox faithful to imitate the heroes of the Greek Revolution, the 200th anniversary of which is being celebrated this year, to make Hellenism in Canada great.

“Let no one be left behind. Let no one despair. Christ will accompany us and bless us,” the Archbishop concludes.

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2/20/2021

See also
Greek Metropolis of Toronto now allowing parishes and parishioners to decide how many Communion spoons to use Greek Metropolis of Toronto now allowing parishes and parishioners to decide how many Communion spoons to use Greek Metropolis of Toronto now allowing parishes and parishioners to decide how many Communion spoons to use Greek Metropolis of Toronto now allowing parishes and parishioners to decide how many Communion spoons to use
After studying the guidelines, priests and parish councils are to choose one of three options for distributing Holy Communion to the faithful. Greeks in Toronto report their own churches again, Metropolitan Sotirios reveals Greeks in Toronto report their own churches again, Metropolitan Sotirios reveals Greeks in Toronto report their own churches again, Metropolitan Sotirios reveals Greeks in Toronto report their own churches again, Metropolitan Sotirios reveals
“The problem is yours,” the official said. “You are the ones who are divided. Your people are making the complaints.” Greek faithful in Canada greet Metropolitan’s directive to use multiple spoons with cries of “Anaxios!” (+VIDEO) Greek faithful in Canada greet Metropolitan’s directive to use multiple spoons with cries of “Anaxios!” (+VIDEO) Greek faithful in Canada greet Metropolitan’s directive to use multiple spoons with cries of “Anaxios!” (+VIDEO) Greek faithful in Canada greet Metropolitan’s directive to use multiple spoons with cries of “Anaxios!” (+VIDEO)
The faithful at a Greek Orthodox parish under the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Canada loudly and fervently rejected the directive from their ruling hierarch Metropolitan Sotirios that multiple spoons are to be used to serve Holy Communion to the people. Ban on Holy Communion in Greek Metropolis of Toronto instigated by Greek Community of Toronto organization Ban on Holy Communion in Greek Metropolis of Toronto instigated by Greek Community of Toronto organization Ban on Holy Communion in Greek Metropolis of Toronto instigated by Greek Community of Toronto organization Ban on Holy Communion in Greek Metropolis of Toronto instigated by Greek Community of Toronto organization
Letters published by the Greek Community of Toronto (GCT), a charitable organization that owns and operates four churches in Toronto, testify that the ban was instigated by the organization and parishioners of the churches themselves, while the city seemed to be laxer on enforcing the requirements. City of Toronto bans Holy Communion (+VIDEO) City of Toronto bans Holy Communion (+VIDEO) City of Toronto bans Holy Communion (+VIDEO) City of Toronto bans Holy Communion (+VIDEO)
On June 20, the city government of Toronto issued revised COVID-19 guidelines that ban the offering of Holy Communion to the faithful.
Comments
Alex2/21/2021 6:29 am
When you have clowns running the show...this is what you get! Imagine that...the Greeks of Canada are in dire financial straights, just like their American cousins!
Mikhail2/21/2021 4:42 am
This Archbishop should be deposed.He permitted this to happen.
Sotiris2/20/2021 10:11 pm
God’s judgements are inscrutable and He will not be mocked! These Western Greeks left their birthplace and rejected Christ (in His Communion) but now they want financial help! We shall see if it comes. Who cares about some 200 years of Hellenism? How about 2000 years of Christ!
Timothy 2/20/2021 9:23 pm
"According to our constitution, as board of directors, we have a moral and legal obligation to preserve and promote the Greek Community of Toronto..." THIS says it all! Not "promote Orthodoxy". Rather to promote "the Greek community". Sad.....
It’s Time for Real Orthodox Christians to Come Together2/20/2021 5:36 pm
The Orthodox Church upholds the truth stated by St. Ignatius of Antioch that Holy Communion is the “medicine of immortality and the antidote that we should not die but live for ever in Jesus Christ.” The downfall of the Toronto churches shows what happens when the sick are not allowed to partake of this medicine. They go elsewhere for it.
John2/20/2021 4:25 pm
The Archbishop ought to have publicly rebuked the GCT for causing this cascade of events. Seems the faithful voted with their feet.
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