EP giving Patmos Orthodox Church to Roman Catholics?

[Maria]

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew plans to convert a Greek Orthodox Church in Patmos dedicated to Saint Focas into a functioning Catholic Church ostensibly to increase good will and religious tourism at Patmos.

Will the EP also gift some holy ground at Mt. Athos?

Lord have mercy.

Machine Translation by Google Translate:

http://www.orthodoxia.gr/show.cfm?id=1886&obcatid=4

• Relentless lobbying in recent weeks TO Abbot and the brotherhood of the Monastery of St. John the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate at the behest of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Holy Monastery to cede the Church of Agios Fokas, at the entrance harbor TO Papists and municipalities TO Uniates. This issue has caused quite a stir on the island. Abbot Archimandrite Cyril in consultation with the remaining Brotherhood categorically refused consent patriarchal pressures brought verbally. Originally called by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to submit a request in writing, which he refused, probably to avoid the general public outcry. But then obliged to send memos, recording the exact reasons for their refusal to hand over to the Uniates Vatican the Orthodox Church of Agios Fokas.

  Reportedly the Ecumenical Patriarchate maintains that through this will reinforce and grow vertically religious tourism, since it is expected to more than double the Papists pilgrims from Europe, serving functional !!! However, the expression of pressures by the Ecumenical Patriarchate few days after the Pope's visit in Istanbul indicates the existence of some scenes and under tpon bushel agreed the lantern with the Vatican which have been already implemented.

  In this context releases last and a strong rumor that has to do with the requirement of Vatican Fall Mount Athos on the grounds of alleged wade papal IN Athonite monasticism !!! Speculation refers How does the Vatican to buy initially a cell and how the scenes there already an informal agreements with certain patriarchal monasteries and fraternities. However, it is certain that if reporting back to the Holy Community formally the Ecumenical Patriarchate will take the ratio everywhere and we will ... blows for very-long. Why then many monks and with the law will take its course persecuted Palau Brotherhood Esphigmenou ...

  Patmos But unlike Mount Athos customary lantern to change the abbot like shirts so you should obtain the innermost aspirations. Not excluded after refusing now abbot of the monastery to come up with some new elections Abbot ... his choice, which would consensus patriarchal Haiti!

  The local newspaper, however Patmos in the web site that maintains (patmostimes) referring to the issue Tutu wrote among others, the following: "" stultify MASTER ON House APOLESAI "This refers ecclesiastical saying and seems to find its faithful implementation, after heated rumors are circulating that there is an effort and even the Patriarchate being invaded the center of orthodoxy is the Patmos by creating CATHOLIC cHURCH in our island and even to house the existing church of Agios Fokas in the port. Perhaps an attempt not only conquest of the island and of Orthodoxy in general, since in Kolokotronis to occupy the Tripolitsa ranked first suburbs and cut off the supply. Temple So for Catholics Patmos and even ready wishes to Treat the Patriarchate to the Pope - from whom does return? - And now perhaps explain the other day embrace both the Patriarchate. Will they accept the Pope if tomorrow we say whether, where not, asked to build Orthodox church in the Vatican or to St. Peter or Mark? What purpose is served? Hair might not ever know since always driven on well-oiled gears, one deliberate and sluggish Phanariot diplomacy, but danger to Orthodoxy and the nation in general ... We know enough, lobbying energy and pressure brought to the abbot and apparently the Brotherhood Monastery and come back. Are there people though. It's clean Patriarchate issue single or residents? He knows the patriarch how will the world react? Have you forgotten that the events Dealers monastery has come 20 years always the grounds that it takes time travel preparations, each time just look at opportunities make the trip in Greece and abroad and not on Patmos belonging solely to the Patriarchate? Did afraid? if so for what event? So if you put into practice the intentions and with against the world to create temples all in Patmos, you should probably forget you'll have to think well to pressed again on gravel where sanctify the presence of a great visionary of the Apocalypse.

  It is advisable to think again. And instead of pushing abbess and sisters that has made hostages of, let's come to tell itself or by sending a letter with proposals and not verbally. Then you really will understand and will feel: "How many of adipic puts the bag. '"

[Maria]

According to http://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Exarchate_of_Patmos, the EP has control of the Island of Patmos.

The Patriarchal Exarchate of Patmos consists of the entire Island of Patmos (Greek: Πάτμος), Leipso, Agathonesion and Arkioi and its constituent monasteries and churches. The exarchate is under the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople in accordance with the Venerable Patriarchal and Synodical Act and Statute 1155/81. Patmos island is also referred to as the Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea, since it is the island of ascetic austerity and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

[JamesR]

Isn't Patmos the same island that St. John was exiled to where he wrote Revelation and then died? I don't think he would appreciate part of such a holy site being given to the Roman Catholics. While kindness, good will, and love are important, they can never be done in a context contrary to what we believe. The fact that this is a real Church being turned over is what troubles me most; if it were merely an empty plot of land and the EP allowed the Roman Catholics to erect their own Church out of their own time, effort, and funds, I'd be less appalled. But the fact that an Orthodox Church is being butchered in the process is kind of disheartening. I've been angered and perturbed by many of the EP's actions, but I feel I must trust that God appointed him to shepherd us and stay faithful to the Church even during her shameful moments.

[Isaakos]

No, his actions are the actions of schismatics, apostates and heretics. Your trust is greatly misplaced. I was where you are, and a revelation struck me: we do not owe obedience to hierarchs who are actively destroying Orthodoxy.

Let the fathers speak, and you tell me what your conscience says when you compare their examples to the actions of Bartholomew:

"They who are of the Church, are of the truth; and they who are not of the truth,
are not of the Church of Christ." --St. Gregory Palamas

"As for all those who pretend to confess the sound Orthodox Faith, but are in
communion with people who hold a different opinion, if they are forewarned and
still remain stubborn, you must not only not be in communion with them, but you
must not even call them brothers." --St. Basil the Great

"Submit not yourselves to monastics, nor to presbyters, who teach lawless things
and evilly propound them. And why do I say only monastics or presbyters? Follow not
even after bishops who guilefully exhort you to do and say and believe things that
are not profitable. What pious man will keep silence, or who will remain altogether
at peace? For silence means consent. Oftentimes war is known to be praiseworthy,
and a battle proves to be better than a peace that harms the soul. For it is better
to separate ourselves from them who do not believe aright than to follow them in
evil concord, and by our union with them separate ourselves from God." --Saint
Meletius the Confessor

"Is the shepherd a heretic? Then he is a wolf, and it will be needful to flee and
leap away from him, and not be deceived into approaching him, even if he appears to
be fawning gently. Avoid communion and intercourse with him as snake’s poison:
for fish are caught with hook and bait, while an evil intercourse, which contains
the poison of heresy concealed therein, has captured many of the more simpleminded
who came close and expected to suffer no harm. Wherefore it is fitting to avoid
such men with all our might. Is the shepherd orthodox, does he bear the seal of
piety, does he have none of the heretical crew trailing after him? Then submit to
him, since he presides in the likeness of Christ. Thou doest honour not to him, if
thou doest it with all thy soul: Christ receives it. Do not meddle in other
matters. God is their examiner; leave the judgment to Him. Do thou, however, show
him obedience and a pure disposition in accordance with thy love of Christ." --St.
Photius the Great

"As we walk the unerring and life-bringing path, let us pluck out the eye that
scandalizes us--not the physical eye, but the noetic one. For example, if a bishop
or a presbyter, who are the eyes of the Church, conduct themselves in an evil
manner and scandalize the people, they must be plucked out. For it is more
profitable to gather in a house of prayer without them, than to be cast together
with them, as it were with Annas and Caiaphas, into the gehenna of fire." --St.
Athanasius the Great

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves." What then (you
say), when he is wicked should we obey? Wicked? In what sense? If indeed in regard
to Faith, flee and avoid him; not only if he be a man, but even if he be an angel
come down from Heaven; but if in regard to life, be not over-curious. --St. John
Chrysostom

Code: Select all

 St. John the Almsgiver said: “We shall not escape sharing in that punishment

which, in the world to come, awaits heretics, if we defile Orthodoxy and the holy
Faith by adulterous communion with heretics.” The Life of St. John the
Almsgiver.

Code: Select all

 “Chrysostomos loudly declares not only heretics, but also those who have

communion with them, to be enemies of God.” St. Theodore the Studite, Epistle of
Abbot Theophilus.

Code: Select all

 “Guard yourselves from soul-destroying heresy, communion with which is

alienation from Christ.” St. Theodore the Studite, P.G. 99.1216.

Code: Select all

 “Some have suffered final shipwreck with regard to the faith. Others, though

they have not drowned in their thoughts, are nevertheless perishing through
communion with heresy.” St. Theodore the Studite.

"If your bishop be heretical, flee, flee, flee as from fire and a serpent" (Saint
John Chrysostom).

"If thy bishop should teach any thing outside of the appointed order, even if he
lives in chastity, or if he work signs, or if he prophecy, let him be unto thee as
a wolf in sheep's clothing, for he works the destruction of souls" (Saint
Ignatius)

St. Sophronius of Jerusalem writes: “If any should separate themselves from
someone, not on the pretext of a [moral] offence, but on account of a heresy that
has been condemned by a Synod or by the Holy Fathers, they are worthy of honour and
approbation, for they are the Orthodox."

And, as St. Nicephorus of Constantinople writes: “You know, even if very few
remain in Orthodox and piety, then it is precisely these that are the Church, and
the authority and leadership (concerning) the ecclesiastical institutions remains
with them.”

“For it is better to be led by no one,” says St. John Chrysostom, “than to be
led by one who is evil. For the former indeed are often saved, and often in peril,
but the latter will be altogether in peril, being led into the pit of perdition”

What then ought you to do?