Abbot of German monastery: Current turmoil in Orthodoxy is devil's work
Schema-Archimandrite Johannes, abbot of the German Orthodox Holy Trinity Monastery in Buchhagen. Photo: UOJ
Schema-Archimandrite Johannes, the abbot of the German Orthodox Holy Trinity Monastery in Buchhagen, in an interview with UOJ in Germany commented on the current divisions in global Orthodoxy.
Answering the question of whether the current unrest in traditionally Orthodox countries is an argument against Orthodoxy, the Schema-Archimandrite categorically disagreed with this.
“The persecutions and confusion in the Orthodox countries, but also within the Orthodox Church here in Germany and throughout the world, are not an argument against Orthodoxy at all. On the contrary, thanks to its fidelity to Holy Tradition, Orthodoxy enables us to recognize and strengthen the divinely given fundamental structures of life by intimately uniting ourselves with the eternal source of being, with God, the Holy Trinity, and by striving to live, act, and work according to the divine archetypes,” stated the Schema-Archimandrite.
Speaking about the turmoil in Orthodoxy, he emphasized that it is precisely the Orthodox countries that attract special attention from dark forces.
“Where could the devil have more to do than in the true Church? What could he fight against more fiercely than the Way, the Truth, and the Life?” he asked the UOJ journalist.
“The wonderful thing is that Orthodoxy is not merely a doctrinal abstract truth, nor a legalism or morality, and thus not just another "denomination" among many, but rather contains within itself the divine-human mystery itself. Orthodoxy in this true sense essentially transcends everything that can be taught, known, and done.... Orthodoxy is not a doctrine, not a denomination, not a set of rules, but a living relationship, life from God and toward God, being in God,” emphasized the Schema-Archimandrite.
Recall, earlier the monks of the Trinity Monastery in Buchhagen stated that in the EU, Orthodoxy opposes the dominion of the Antichrist.
Read also
Number of Orthodox сhurches grows by third over 15 years in France – report
The report records an increase in the number of clergy by almost 40% – a sharp contrast with declining religious practice among Catholics and Protestants in France.
Shevchuk claims Putin wants him dead, Australian media report
In an article by an Australian newspaper, the head of the UGCC spoke of threats against him and linked them to the policies of Russia’s leadership.
Patriarch of Antioch expresses support for UOC
The Primate of the Antiochian Church emphasized that the canonical Church in Ukraine is the UOC.
Court finds no evidence of Ukrainophobia in Metropolitan of Cherkasy
The Sosnivsky District Court of Cherkasy dismissed the prosecutor's arguments about Metropolitan Theodosiy's "Ukrainophobic sentiments", calling them unfounded.
Dumenko: We celebrate Christmas to gain strength for fighting the enemy
The head of the OCU believes that celebrating Christmas is necessary for confronting Russia.
UOC Chancellor explains to Serbian media why union with OCU is impossible
Metropolitan Anthony said the OCU arose outside the canonical order from schismatic structures – what took place was legalization, not the healing of a schism.