Athonite monasteries consider Archbishop Elpidophoros' visit undesirable

Archbishop Elpidophoros after baptising the children of a gay couple. Photo: neoskosmos

Representatives of almost all monasteries on Mount Athos have signed a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew asking him to cancel the visit of Archbishop Elpidophoros, the head of the Phanar Archdiocese of America, to the Holy Mount.

In a letter published by Εθνικού Κήρυκα, representatives of the Athonite monasteries, addressing Patriarch Bartholomew, who is their regular Bishop, wrote: "We regret to note that, through the published photos of the Archbishop of America, after the end of the sacrament, a wrong impression was created regarding the acceptance by the Church of the sacrament of same-sex marriage, a message contrary to towards the doctrines and teaching of the Orthodox Church."

The representatives and superiors of the Holy Monasteries appeal to the Patriarch "as you incline your ears to our concern on the extremely sensitive subject, which concerns the integrity of the modern faith and Orthodox traditions".

According to Εθνικού Κήρυκα, if Elpidophoros does come to Athos, he will not be received with the usual honours for archbishops.

The monasteries and monks are put in a difficult position, as they cannot, in their words, "close the door", to the Orthodox hierarch, and so they appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew to recommend to Archbishop Elpidophoros not to go to Mount Athos, as they believe that "he will be photographed there after his expatriate companion to show that he is accepted by the monks”.

Εθνικού Κήρυκα also reports that a few months ago Archbishop Elpidophoros asked for permission to go to Mount Athos to attend a Monastery celebration, but was told that he was unwelcome.

It is also known that during Elpidophoros' upcoming visit to Thessaloniki, he will be accompanied by a group of Greek-Americans.

The Archbishop intends to address the Israeli community of Thessaloniki and ordain a young man from Mexico whom he will assign to the community of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in Corona, New York, for "missionary work" among Hispanics in the area.

The ordination will take place in Greece because the US authorities did not approve a visa for the relatives of the future Phanar priest to travel to America.

As earlier reported, Archbishop Elpidophoros, the head of the Phanar Archdiocese of America, baptised two children of a same-sex "family" during a visit to Greece. This situation caused a scandal in Greece.

The Greek Church promised to complain to Patriarch Bartholomew because Archbishop Elpidophoros did not inform Metropolitan Antonios of Glyfada that the children's parents were sodomites.

Later, Phanariot theologian John Chryssavgis said that "it is time to talk about sex and gender in the Church."

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