Below is an essay written by a lay theologian under Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens. Please feel free to give a response or ask a question about this essay.
In this essay, Mannes appears to be redefining Cyprianism. One can also see the effects of Roman Catholic teachings here, whereby the faithful attribute to their heretical Orthodox hierarch a certain infallibility arguing that these hierarchs cannot do any wrong, and thus, to separate from these heretical hierarchs would be an act of schism.
Note: This essay was published in a closed group on Facebook, but because Facebook inserts cookies that can damage computers and/or slow them down, I hesitate to link to that website. Besides, one would only be able to view this PDF document if they were a member of this closed group. Further note: I have only included the essay, not the footnotes.
Episcopocentrism: Transposing the Boundaries of the Church
Episcopocentrism, as a heresy, was expounded chiefly by Fa-
ther Epiphanios Theodoropoulos [9] and arose as a reaction to
Matthewitism (which it dubs “Zealotry,” including therein, how-
ever, other teachings that are in every way correct, such as keep-
ing one’s distance from uncondemned heretics). It is the most
dangerous ecclesiological heresy of our time, along with ecumenism,
to which it renders sterling service.This heresy transposes the boundaries of the Church from the
Truth of the Faith to the persons who administer it, regarding
as evidence that one is “within the Church” the fact that one is in
communion with those in authority at all times, even if they are
heretics, though on the grounds that they have not been officially
cut off from the Body of the Church.This ecclesiological heresy is in direct contradiction both to the
teaching of the Church as expressed through the Synods and
the Holy Fathers and to the practice of the latter and also of all
Orthodox at a time when heresy makes itself manifest within the
bosom of the Church.For the Saints, evidence that one is essentially within the Church
is the Truth of one’s Faith,[10] that is, the Orthodoxy of his Confession.
[11]Thus, Orthodox who break communion with those in authority,
when the latter have fallen into heresy, in no way regard them-
selves, and never have been regarded, as “outside the Church.” [12]This unheard-of teaching of communion with Hierarchs who
are uncondemned heretics invalidates the entire Orthodox struggle
that always preceded the Synodal condemnation of a heresy,
which struggle delivered the Church from the divisions and
schisms that heresy inflicted on Her. [13]This heresy has, unfortunately, incapacitated a large segment
of those who, in all other respects, have an Orthodox mentality,
but who for decades have not dared to do the obvious (that is, to
break ecclesiastical communion with those who preach heresy),
out of fear of finding themselves “outside the Church.” 14The ever-memorable contemporary Father of the Church, Father
Theodoretos (Mavros), in particular wrote illuminating works against
this heresy.– Nikolaos Mannes, a lay theologian under Archbishop Kallinikos of Greece
12/29/2016