On the American Monastacism Question

Kostas Matsourakis Editor, Orthodox Heritage
http://www.OrthodoxHeritage.org

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I find it necessary to write to your website regarding a topic that was brought forth in a recent letter titled “The Ephraim Question” [see http://www.orthodoxnews.netfirms.com/43/The Ephraim Question.htm].

The article’s author (Paul Cromidas) appears to be overly concerned about the movement that Greek Orthodox monasticism and Elder Ephraim have brought to America and the “impact among the clergy and theology students at Holy Cross.” He goes on to formalize his suspicions through inferences that may/may not have been made by a couple of Greek Orthodox hierarchs. He then reaches into the past and brings up the name of His Eminence, Archbishop Spyridon and Fr. George Passias to further make his questionable point. Finally, he goes on to label a group of people as “Ephraimites” (I imagine those who go to monasteries), and brings up complaints of clergy and laity on issues of confession without any real references. At the end, he demands a reply on the Elder “Ephraim question” from the hierarchy of the Greek Orthodox Church, as if his life depended on it. At no point does he ever make a connection on how he, as a Greek Orthodox Christian has (or will) benefit from this whole issue’s resolution. In a general sense, his letter is very GOAL-ish…

Before addressing Paul Cromidas’ letter, it is necessary that a clarification be made on some of the realities of our current situation as the Church of Christ. It is widely accepted that we live in a culture of narcissistic egotism, whereby the material success of the individual outweighs the common good, and where our children are taught daily that the ends justify the means. Our spiritual salvation and survival, as a group, is at stake now more than ever before in the 2,000-year history of Orthodoxy. I realize that a thesis can be written on this issue alone. That is not my intent; I do believe strongly though, that given the drastic condition of social life today in America it is imperative that we learn to cultivate an ever-increasing attentiveness to matters of spirituality if we are to realize our salvation.

The sad fact is that Greek Orthodoxy in America has deviated severely from her path in the very few years of this Archdiocese’s life. One needs only observe events at his local parish level to realize this. I point out some personal observations made at five to six parishes that I have been a part of in the last twenty plus years.

* Our faithful are, for the most part, completely ignorant of their Faith, often quoting heretical ideas that they heard from others, not being able to distinguish between Orthodox and Catholic theology.
* The Liturgy has been shortened to accommodate the Sunday, post-Liturgy entertainment ”needs” of the faithful (NFL, NBA, soccer leagues or plain coffee hour socializing). The post-Liturgy coffee hour is almost as long as our Liturgy.
* There exist churches where the parish coffee ”lounge” is in the basement of the church where gossiping, dancing, eating and other questionable activities take place right under the Holy Altar.
* Holy Communion has become “Sunday morning candy” for most. One observes men and women approaching to partake of His Body and Blood with gum in their mouth, hands in pockets and questionable attire. Women show up in provocative and scandalizing attire, from super mini skirts, all the way to bare back outfits and dresses held up by thin straps. Most important, priests accept it all, saying nothing (even when the faithful complain) and instead go after older Greek women who wish to wear scarves while in Church.

* Fasting and confession have become too Orthodox for most. I have seen cream cheese and bagels offered during Lent (at the coffee social) and I hear priests tell the faithful that they should only come to confession only if something they have done is bad and really bothers them. My priest friends even tell me how, quite often they are scandalized by their fellow clergymen who do not keep the Wednesday/Friday fast (or even the fasts of Great Lent or Advent) and make them feel guilty or “weird” if they do!
* Our priests come out of the seminaries full of the modern psychology theories, with fully protestant views, taught very little about the Church Fathers and fully unprepared to lead flocks. Their sermons are full of antitheses and heretical ideas. I have heard one repeatedly eulogize mother Teresa (as if we run short of Orthodox saints). Another prominent graduate calls the symbol of Byzantium “burnt chicken” and he tells us that this title was common among his colleagues. Another one informs his flock that Christ was not really perfect until after He died on the Cross. Finally, one brought a Catholic Bishop during Liturgy and placed him on the Orthodox Bishop’s throne.
* Oh, and then we have the organ accompanied choirs, or as I call them “group of want-to-be opera singers”. They make a mockery of Byzantine chanting. I will never forget the case of a (musically gifted) priest who took it upon himself to write his own Doxology…
* The majority of parishes are fostering an anti-Hellenic spirit which is rapidly removing anything Greek from within the parish. Naturally, for three days of the year, they all become excellent Greeks during the annual Greek Festival when budget dictates they undertake a pretentious role and praise their heritage. On Monday it is all cleaned up, the Greek paper flags are in the trash and we are back to criticizing anything Hellenic.
* Priesthood has become just another profession, and a well paying one at that. Priests make close to $100,000 (before any “gifts”), offer a limited (usually two) liturgies per week and are mostly pre-occupied with the wants and needs of the community’s self-declared (wealthy and loud) leaders. These are usually a few wealthy parishioners who equate their worldly success with the right to throw their weight around in all facets of the church’s business, including liturgical aspects! They are commonly described as the ”I paid for the church building so do what I say”, good ole boys…
* The attire of most priests outside of the Church is very un-Orthodox. One can count in two hands the number of priests that wear their rassa off Church premises. There exist Orthodox jurisdictions where the rassa-wearing priests are threatened with suspension if they refuse to conform.
* The concept of Christian Love is prevalent within the sermons of most priests without a clear understanding of the spiritual values of either Christ’s Love or all other theological aspects of the miracle we call Orthodoxy.

This is the reality and these are and have been the prevalent conditions of the Orthodox parishes throughout America for a very long time. Within such spiritually bankrupt conditions, there were still a great number of pious Orthodox Christians the prayers of whom God answered through the arrival of monasticism in America. Any person who has studied monasticism (or spent time at the Holy Mountain) would know that monasticism has provided us a path out of the spiritual abyss that we have been on for a very long time. Paul Cromidas can certainly visit the monasteries that these monks came from and he would observe that they had a perfect monastic atmosphere. They did not need to abandon the spiritual peace and tranquil conditions of the Holy Mountain to realize any personal gain. Mr. Cromidas, the monastics did not go to vacation in Vegas or Atlantic City; they instead set to tame a tough and unforgiving desert and have been providing spiritual comfort, guidance and prayers to all that ask, irrespective of social standing or stock portfolio value. They have received zero assistance from the Archdiocese and have in return been persecuted by priests and even some hierarchs who have often admonished parishioners for “daring to go to a monastery.” Such priests have gone as far as to inform parishioners that they could not partake of the sacraments if they did not disassociate themselves from the monasteries (we are aware of such cases in Florida and Chicago). We are also informed that Holy Cross seminarians are extremely careful to not show any empathy towards monasticism for they will become “marked men” as one of them shared with us. Those that are fond of monasticism must maintain their admiration in secret for the consequences are grave.

Mr. Cromidas also makes various allegations that the monasteries are “cult” centers and that Elder Ephraim is a “cult” leader, thus following a popular notion among the anti-monastics of our Archdiocese. We all know only too well how this term has come to be. Rather than entertain the readers with the travesty of these allegations, I limit my observations to just one. It is important for all of us to realize that we, here in America, are spiritually very immature, and we are very quick to jump to conclusions based upon our own ignorance. Unless we know otherwise, we should assume that Elder Ephraim is a good and wise monastic leader and a true disciple of St. Joseph the Hesychast (his glorification by the Ecumenical Patriarchate is taking place this coming year we are told). Maybe he is even more than that. But we should not speak of him in exaggerated terms–either as a ”cult leader” OR a ”living saint.” This is not how sober and mature Orthodox Christians think and speak.

The answer as to why monasticism came to America is very simple. Because God answered the prayers of pious Orthodox in this great nation and utilized the monastics to fill the great spiritual void within our Archdiocese. Yes, Mr. Cromidas, it is true: Elder Ephraim is indeed doing God’s Will and it is wrong and blasphemous for you and your friends to claim otherwise. Do you recall when GOAL and OCL were organized a few years ago and had put forth the claim of salvation for Orthodoxy in America? This claim came from people that consider spirituality as something that a Buddhist monk cooks in the Himalayas; we all know that they are so wrapped up in the power and control games and lawsuits that they could not recognize God’s Will even if it was playing at the local theater. Why is it that you and your friends never dare question their Divine purpose but select to pick on men and women that have dedicated their life to Christ?

It is customary nowadays to discuss charters and conditions of autocephaly for this Archdiocese and that Patriarchate. It makes one wonder as to what type of Charter the Christians of the most blessed period of Christianity had, the first three hundred years. History teaches us that they did not even have the Bible yet — they went by the Apostolic Canons, a set of rules that had very little to do with governance and everything to do with salvation. Is it any wonder that they produced thousands of saints while the last 200 years of American Orthodoxy have produced none? Are perhaps the priorities being placed on areas that inhibit vs. promote salvation? The Holy Fathers teach us that within the Church there is potential to “produce relics,” so, if our parishes are not working towards producing saints, then perhaps they are failing at their primary (and perhaps only) function. Our Church is NOT ours — it is His Bride and those in charge of one side or another will all be accountable as to how She is governed or treated. It is on this issue that all American faithful must note that our Greek Orthodox monasticism here (as well as in Greece) has not deviated from this goal. To suggest that we impose our worldly will and methods on Elder Ephraim and the monasteries in America would constitute a spiritual crime! Can one imagine, Mr. Cromidas, a set of persons like you and me trying to tell them how to run something that has existed for hundreds of years?

As for the “money” question, within an article by this website’s financiers (OCL), we read of the “threat” to (once again) sue the Archdiocese. A familiar theme — it reminds one of the GOAL days. In specific, under the article “OCL Requests to Meet with Archbishop to Forestall Legal Action,” we read:

“Litigation is very costly for all concerned, not only monetarily but also in so many other aspects,” said Dr. Haikalis. Therefore it is taken only as a last resort after all other efforts have proven fruitless. But, if that is the only course available to preserve for the Greek Orthodox faithful of this Archdiocese their historic role in the governance of their church, OCL is prepared to take the steps necessary, he stated.”

Well, we now know for sure that the long honeymoon of Archbishop Demetrios has truly come to an end and here come the piranhas. May I suggest to Paul Cromidas (and all others who are concerned with monasticism funds) that they invest some time demanding of their “self-appointed” leaders to quit threatening (and eventually suing) the Archdiocese thus causing the deficits over which Paul Cromidas appears to be so distraught? The monasteries never have (and never will) ask for (or receive) any type of funding from the Archdiocese. If the Archdiocese finances are suffering it is certainly not because of the monasteries; the root cause lies within the attitudes and wasteful actions that are prevalent and exhibited by the Archdioceses’ and her enemies’ leaders, whether they are elected or self appointed. As far as Paul Cromidas’ claim on how “ironic it is that the Ephraim monasteries do not appear to have money problems,” one dares ask him the question on how he knows that? I mean what is his source? He surely knows that the monasteries are not selling plaques and titles to their donors nor do they pass an offering plate during services. So, if this is true, how then is it done? It surely makes one wonder! Does this not teach Paul Cromidas and his “associates” a lesson that the Centurion and Noble titles for sale at the Archdiocese and Patriarchate level are making a mockery of our religion? Is it possible that God is also not blessing our Archdiocese because of our abandoning His Divine Will? One needs only read the history of the Latins and the pope’s forgiveness papers fiasco to draw a similar parallel.

And what do we read? Mr. Cromidas is concerned about historic roles as they involve the church? That is wonderful; here then is some history on monasticism. It was established by St. Anthony the Great, before the First Ecumenical Synod — in other words, it has existed for well over 1,700 years; so that we maintain the proper perspective, this is eight times longer than the history of this nation and some 15 times longer than the Archdiocese of America’s life! My experience tells me that we should be asking them to help us run our Archdiocese vs. us trying to oversee them.

And what is this now that laity demands involvement in the governance of His Church? I believe that in America, we have a group of self-styled Orthodox reformers who use their limited knowledge to further their cause. They know that they must at least act a little religious from time to time if they hope to attract the faithful towards their cause. Thus, they use bits and pieces of writings from church history, which happen to emphasize the place of the laity in the Church to bolster their position. They offer such quotes as proof that the laity should have a ”much greater voice.” The truth though is that they take such arguments completely out of context to help them in what is fundamentally a dishonest, anti-hierarchical crusade for power. Laity involvement in the historic Church has principally been through the monastic community, philanthropy and intellectual pursuits. Furthermore, the laity involved in the affairs of the Historic Church were not a pack of secularized Americans ashamed of their own tradition! Nor have the laity in the historic church been a group of wealthy Greek-Americans who think that parish councils “own” the church or that because they are wealthy they have the “right” to fire Archbishops and tell the Patriarch what to do.

His Church is simply not for sale! We are all very well aware of the handful of very wealthy and powerful Greek-Americans who are highly self-aware regarding their material success in America. These Greeks are determined to be socially acceptable to the surrounding culture. This group is offended by the fact that they are unable to control the Patriarch and appoint bishops at will, in other words establish the American campaign-type funding-driven political election system on His Church. This is a dangerous approach that must NEVER be allowed to exist. Those few OCL leaders that are ideologically committed to this modernist approach are wrong and may end up causing the demise of Orthodoxy as we know it. We are all aware that they have the support of several liberally inclined priests, some faculty at the seminary, some feminists, some Orthodox from other jurisdictions and others who are quietly trying to change the Orthodox Church and make it “modern.” May God prevent them from realizing their “dream.”

My thought is that Paul Cromidas is another pawn in the game that is being played by the powerful elite who wish to gain control on anything and everything that bears the Orthodox name, monasteries inclusive. We know that, as well as we know that their actions are NOT of God and that they will not go unnoticed. So, as Paul Cromidas and his friends sit in smoke-filled rooms plotting the control of everything and anything, they need to remember that this is His Bride, He is Omnipotent and that He will judge us all. St. Ephraim the Syrian said that “fear of God is instrumental in the development of a relationship with Christ which may then lead us all into salvation.” I pray that all the Paul Cromidases of America come to their senses and commence living the life that He would want us all to live, addressing the issues and problems that He would wish us to resolve.

In closing, I wish to suggest to Mr. Cromidas (as well as Orthodox News and OCL at large) that our society is plagued with an over-abundance of social as well as moral issues; our spiritual health is at stake every single day and we are all in constant danger of losing the Heavenly seat prepared for all of us by our Lord and Savior. To attack monasticism, the very foundation, defender and spiritual warriors of Orthodoxy for the last two millennia, is not only illogical but a grave sin against God. His Saints, most of them monastic themselves, will hold accountable those who for purely worldly reason persecute the Living Well of Orthodox Spirituality. May He enlighten our words, actions and thoughts and may He lead Mr. Cromidas into realizing the wrongfulness of his unfounded criticism towards Elder Ephraim and all other Greek Orthodox monastics in this blessed nation of ours. Mr. Cromidas, they have done nothing to you or those close to you. Let them be!

In Christ our Lord and Savior,

Kostas Matsourakis Editor, Orthodox Heritage Greek Orthodox Brotherhood of St. POIMEN