Soliloquy & Division
Calculatedly the Hashemite Synaxis (Brotherly Gathering) in Amman was held right before the start of Great Lent, a time of spiritual athleticism, prayer, and abstinence. Lent is not a time to explore the “sins of your brother.” In spite of this fact the “familial gathering” was intentionally organized before lent to benefit from this dutiful Orthodox phronema. So, to begin, forgive the sins of the author. If silence is consent (qui tacet consentire videtur), I do not consent! In fact, I object uncompromisingly! I defend the Orthodox faith’s Traditions and will not be silent and allow these malignant intentions to metastasize. How will these false ideas become ascendant? Through our silence in the face of the vocal campaign of malevolent commentaries shrouded behind the veil of a pseudo-pious Soviet church leadership and her malicious monastic propaganda division with high-tech facilities camouflaged in monasteries scattered around the Kremlin. The theological sleight of hand in Amman and the outright pernicious slanders of the Kremlin’s covert propaganda arm is disconcerting. Editors of the most insidious Muscovite propaganda sites like Nun Cornelias Rees and Bishop Tikhon Shevkunov spearhead the fake-news ortho-sphere. Lies disseminated by devious clergy like Bishop Ireneaus of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia who says, “It is well known that the most serious issues of disunity in the present moment are the result of the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.” It is an insult to the Orthodox faithful the standards by which Moscow conducts itself. A charge set of ideas now dominates muscovite ecclesiology: that Orthodox Christian's are defined by their country of origin, ethnicity, or ethnic preference and that discrimination based on those characteristics has been the driving force of Eastern Orthodoxy. These ideas are seemingly redefining the Orthodox Church. Yet the passiveness of many patriarchates, local bishops and conscientious individuals responding to eucharistic blackmail and Russian racism is confounding and chilling. The Kremlin based Russian Orthodox Church has chosen to instigate a confrontation of tantrums and schism. Masquerading as virtuous protectors of Orthodoxy, reminiscent of the Ayatollah of Iran in the 70s this obstinacy must be rejected. Perhaps that is why only two primates joined the coercive initiative of the Moscow Patriarch even if concealed by a "gracious invitation" of Patriarch Theophilos. Moscow’s sponsored self-delusion influences Orthodoxy making local churches think they can arbitrarily change things. The final consequence of the brotherly gathering is ignoble and unworthy. Let’s measure up some elements of the Holy and Great Council in Kolymbari, Crete 2016 with the Muscovite initiated “Hashemite Synaxis” in Amman, Jordan. After years of unanimous agreed preparations for the Holy and Great Council the Church of Moscow had suddenly devised numerous enthusiastic reservations just days before the Council in Crete. These “concerns” were intended to completely undermine the work all Orthodox churches developed over years of preparation. Ironically, one protest appealed hosting the Holy and Great Council in a majority Muslim country such as Turkey would not be an appropriate venue for a Pan-Orthodox meeting. They then discovered that the church of St. Eirini where this Synod was to be convened had no cross on its dome. Evidently the cross less five-star Fairmont Hotel in Muslim Amman, Jordan met their concerns. As we know, the Holy and Great Council was ultimately not held in Constantinople. The Ecumenical Patriarch benevolently understood the geopolitical difficulties of the Moscow Church due to the Russian-Turkish conflict, if we recall, a Turkish air force shot down a Russian attack aircraft near the Syria–Turkey border on November 24, 2015. Through His All Holiness’ discernment and encouragement, the GHC was moved to the Orthodox Academy of Crete, on the grounds of the historic 9th century Monastery of Our Lady of Gonia. But again, for reasons known only to the Russian Church, they sniveled. Just hours before the meeting Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev who was in Crete to welcome the Russian delegation and Patriarch Cyril said, “the seating arrangements were unOrthodox” and would not be acceptable. This grievance was fixed by the organizers at much difficulty and yet literally hours before the commencement of the council Metropolitan Hilarion departed Crete and said “the Russians would not attend.” Let’s compare where the Muscovite initiated "brotherly gathering" took place for the purpose of "peace and unity in the Orthodox Church:” The Muslim Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan… The "sacred and sanctified" place where the primates gathered for discussion was a beautiful five-star hotel with no cross. Contrasted to the Holy and Great Council was convened on Pentecost. Daily meetings opened and closed with prayer services, Liturgies, doxologies, vespers… reflecting the spiritual nature of the synaxis. Contrarily the Hashemite “brotherly gathering” was held on February 26th and not a single Holy Service was conducted. Why was this day chosen? Perhaps for the historical relevance of this date: 1848 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels publish The Communist Manifesto in London. 1901 Boxer Rebellion in Peking. 1936 Japanese coup & assassination of political leaders. Or perhaps the two host Patriarchs thought, February 26th, the birthday of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was a good enough reason. Coincidence or cruel jest by Patriarch’s Theophilus and Cyril? You be the judge. It definitely had NO theological relevance by either Old or New Calendar.
Let’s compare a few other elements of the two “gatherings” Comparison of Synaxis Holy and Great Council Hashemite Synaxis Christian Host Country YES (Crete, Greece) NO (Amman, Jordan) Canonical Organization YES NO Preparatory Committees YES (Many) NO Draft Documents YES (Unanimous) NONE Agreed Agenda YES NONE Doxology/Prayers YES NO Divine Liturgies YES NO Venues Orthodox Academy/Churches/Moni Hotel Invited Primates in Attendance 10 2 Primates not in Attendance 4 11 Discourse Type Dialogue & Consesus Soliloquy & Division Attendants 425 13 Press Office YES (daily press briefings) NONE Open to Press YES NO Observers Yes NO At the concluding Hashemite dinner and after the crucial judgements were pronounced, the hierarchs assembled with the religious adviser to King Husein, Muslim Prince Ghazi, who was photographed cheerfully in front of the banner of the Hashemite Synaxis. The only other non-ecclesiastical official the attendants met during their gathering was the Jordanian King, a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad. Something must be said about the petulance of the Patriarchs who literally appropriated the design the backdrop of the Holy and Great Council in Crete. Once more, a jab at prior organizers or just pretentious and intentional nastiness. You be the judge. The image of Pentecost; a reference to Crete? The Logos across the top of banner. They overtly copied the layout of Crete knowing most would not attend, such arrogance. Poignantly all churches agreed to attend in Crete, irrespective the last-minute withdrawal of four communities: Antioch due to Qatar, Georgia supposedly due to a discrepancy in one document, Bulgaria due to expense and Russia due to being Russian. Another obvious difference with Amman Hashemite Synaxis: 11 Primates refused to attend Amman, whereas in Crete unanimous attendance was expected until days/hours in advance. The items officially approved over years of discussion on Pan Orthodox matters for the 2016 Synaxis for referral to and adoption by the Holy and Great Council were: •The Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today’s World. •The Orthodox Diaspora. •Autonomy and the Means by Which it is Proclaimed. •The Sacrament of Marriage and its Impediments. •The Importance of Fasting and Its Observance Today. •Relations of the Orthodox Church with the Rest of the Christian World. All Holy and Great council documents, proceedings, and communiques are available in Greek, English, Russian and French, as well as press coverage, photos, videos and commentaries available at www.holycouncil.org. Whereas nothing is available for the Hashemite Synaxis less a single inept press release and the Russian assertions on dubious sites. Shall we examine the selective agenda or lack thereof? The Hashemite Synaxis participants took the opportunity for soliloquy and not dialogue. They discuss without conclusion or recommendation, simply reiterate many prevailing viewpoints which no one disputes or enunciate individual grievances with current affairs. The Hashemite Synaxis and familial gathering broached several selective issues: •Ukraine •North Macedonia •Montenegro However, no mention of: •Qatar •Crimea (not geopolitical invasion but ecclesiastic oppression) •Sale of church real estate to Israeli settler groups •Incessant local protests against Patriarch Theophilos •Moscow’s pressuring and blackmailing bishops around globe •Moscow sending clergy into other Canonical territories -Constantinople (Istanbul, Antalya, Smyrni, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia…) -Cyprus -Greece -Africa •Moscow intervening on Mount Athos •Moscow’s severing Holy Eucharist for non-dogmatic reasons With no mention of these or other relevant issues the limited delegations declared: "this gathering was to strengthen the fraternal bonds between brothers and their Churches, to promote the bonds of peace in Christ among them, to advocate for the unity of the Orthodox Churches, and to renew dialogue in the prayerful hope of bringing reconciliation where there has been discord." Hypocrites! Post this Hashemite cavalcade, the local bishop of Moscow, Patriarch Cyril is openly confronting the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its privileges and calling on other Orthodox leaders to join this subversive agenda, evidently with the acquiescence of the Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos. Cyril directly disputes the prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarch, both the hierarchical classification of the Patriarch of Constantinople as primus inter paribus and Ecumenical Patriarch as primus sine paribus. Even though the four primates present acknowledge His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with his known seniority of honor (πρεσβεια τιμής και το Πρωτείο του Κωνσταντινουπόλεως) Lets recall accurate Orthodox understanding of his trifold roll in Orthodoxy” “In the case of the archbishop of Constantinople, we observe the unique concomitance of all three levels of primacy, namely the local (as Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome), the regional (as Patriarch), and the universal or worldwide (as Ecumenical Patriarch).” And yet in complete disregard of Orthodox Tradition, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion proclaimed "Another brotherly meeting of Churches planned for later this year... If he [Ecumenical Patriarch] refuses again, consultations will carry on anyway" Are we listening? Silence is consent. I do not consent with the Hashemite Synaxis. I do affirm: As Archbishop of Constantinople he is “one among equals” As Patriarch of Constantinople he is “first among equals” And as Ecumenical Patriarch he is “one without equal” 
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Ηλίας Δαμιανάκης Άρχων Μαΐστωρ της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας AuthorBy the Grace of God Archon Elias Damianakis has ministered in the study of Holy Iconography since 1980. In his biography you can read about Elias' life and on his portfolio page you can see where he has rendered some of his hand painted iconography or visit the photo galleries to see some of his work. There is a complete list of featured articles, awards and testimonials which you can visit, as well as a list of notable achievements here below. Please contact Elias for more information or suggestions for this website, thank you and God Bless. 
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Orthodox Iconography
by the hand Sub-Deacon Elias Damianakis Hagiographos (Iconographer) Archon Maestor of The Great Church of Christ Archon of The Ecumenical Patriarchate [email protected] 727-372-0711 |
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ο Άρχων Μαΐστωρ της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας
Υποδιάκονος Ηλίας Δαμιανάκης -Αγιογράφος
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