The New Holy Mountain Fathers

[Barbara]

Both of you : Greetings with the Dread Feast of St John the Baptist today

It is GOOD that you are bringing up problems that many people may also have. That way our readers will be able to see themselves more clearly and consider whatever options are open for them.

I find these discussions as highly useful because MANY people have similar difficulties along this challenging path.

Right, we all have to remember that Priests are wonderful to have chosen their vocations. BUT, not all are going to be so advanced souls.
Some have a gift for public speaking and drawing in converts from across the board. But the same priests may not be the wisest spiritual advisers.

They all will have their strengths and weaknesses.

Don't be discouraged, Philaret, because you may have run into a few less talented ones at counseling their spiritual children or parish members.

The best advice may be that you will FEEL you are in the right place when you walk in the door and/or speak with the Priest at a particular parish.

It might take awhile

But i don't have any fear because i am not involved with the GOC-K on any level to say outright that it's a good jurisdiction to avoid while Met Demetrios is still the chief hierarch.

Later maybe, but there are too many factors to know what direction things will take later.

Don't let your wife go ! Especially not over some inapplicable counseling from - perhaps it was - a new priest with too little experience ?

The clergy know a lot about SOME topics but they are not experts on every subject, naturally.

[haralampopoulosjc]

A small essay, The Zealot Monks of Mount Athos: From 1924 Until Today

[Barbara]

Thank you for all your research and explanations !
I will read this from the library, thanks again, and greetings with the Church New Year tomorrow

[haralampopoulosjc]

Version 2 with some additions

[Εξοριστη]

@Barbara
Where is that video he recommended the vaccine? Please link it cause that is a huge statement. Did he sunce make follow up statements anywhere on paper or video after to clarify and or correct anything about vaccine recommendation? First I heard of this.

[Barbara]

Greetings with the Feast of St Xenia of St Petersburg

I'm sure that the video was on Joanna's blog which I don't think is online any more. It used to be called Remnant Rocor. Now she has Starting on the Royal Path, I believe, though I meant to go check that for updates.

I remember clearly hearing Met Demetrios of GOC-K delivering a stern [as I recall the tone of it] statement that the vaccine is good and people SHOULD use it.
He was negating the idea of skipping the vaccine, almost as 'anathema'.

Do you remember there was a semi-scandal about an American who joined GOC-K named I think Ephraim ?

Ephraim was really enthusiastic for True Orthodoxy BUT got reprimanded by Met Demetrios for suggesting that the whole thing was a hoax and vaccines should be avoided like the plague.

There was another position too of Met Demetrios' which disappointed Ephraim, i have forgotten what.

Unfortunately, the young man either took this too strongly and went off the rails, and somehow ended up dying at the Grand Canyon or something like this. It was ₄ years ago or so, so i don't recall the details of his end , but it was sobering that the young seeker would be repulsed so insensitively.

Especially since we know the TRUTH. The kid was right, where Met Demetrios was shockingly taking the position of the health-system Stalinists on this topic !

[haralampopoulosjc]

Version 3