The Calendar Issue - St. Joseph the Hesychast
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- Опубліковано 15 чер 2024
- Hear about Christ's revelations to St. Joseph and his brotherhood on the difficult and often contentious issue of the calendar and true Orthodoxy. As a zealot of Athos once confessed, "Fathers, we must admit that Elder Joseph was right. It is not possible for a rotten root to produce such fruits [i.e. his spiritual children]. A tree is known by its fruit.’ Therefore, we must have been wrong, and Elder Joseph must have been right."
0:00 Beginning
0:10 Background
5:14 Revelations from God
9:33 Exactitude with Obedience
12:19 The Encyclical of 1950
14:59 The Revelation (about grace with the New Calendarists)
16:19 Resistance
21:55 Geronda’s Revelation
25:42 More Grace With the New-Calendarists
Buy "My Elder Joseph the Hesychast" written by his disciple, Elder Ephraim of Arizona, here: stanthonysmonastery.org/produ...
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For further study on the calendar issue, here is a short list of resources:
-Elder Sophrony of Essex on the Calendar Issue:
www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2016...
-Elder Paisios the Athonite on the Old Calendar Zealots:
www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2009...
-Elder Ephraim of Arizona Exposes Old Calendarism:
www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2016...
-Ecumenism and Schismatic Old Calendarism, a letter by Blessed Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos:
www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010...
-Elder Philotheos Zervakos on the Schismatic Old Calendarists:
www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010...
-The Three Hierarchs and the Calendar Issue (Elder Cleopa Ilie):
www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2020...
-Schismatic Old-Calendarism is an Anti-Patristic Stance by Monk Basil Gregoriates (a few problems in this text, but overall good):
www.oodegr.com/english//ekkli...
From ROCOR:
-ROCOR Recognition of Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece in 1969
www.theorthodoxarchive.org/po...
-Letter of Met. Petros of Astoria Concerning His Loyalty to Russian Church Abroad's Ecclesiology
www.theorthodoxarchive.org/po...
-See the above website for more, as well as orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_... .
Some resources need a lot of discernment, but these are included for the sake of clarity.
Fr. Peter Heers has some very helpful videos addressing the temptation on the right:
-The Zealot Jungle Which is Growing Up Around Us - Letter from Fr. Seraphim Rose
• The Zealot Jungle Whic...
-On Canon 15 and Ceasing Commemoration of One's Own Bishop
• On Canon 15 and Ceasin...
-The Prophecy of St. Anatole the Younger (“Heretics will take over the Church”)
• The Prophecy of St. An...
-Patristic and Canonical Treatment Toward a Local Church Whose Hierarch Preaches Heresy
• Patristic and Canonica...
*Links from these above websites are not a wholesale endorsement of everything on each website
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St. Joseph’s revelation from God about the Calendar issue:
While I was praying, I saw a brilliant, beautiful church. It had a small exit on the side, and everyone was coming out of the church. In the courtyard, they were arguing. One person shouted, 'I am right!' Another person shouted, 'I am more right!' And a third person, 'I am with the true church!' This reveals that although they were arguing, they all belonged to a single church. They have dogmas in common, and they have grace, but they were arguing because they don't have an open mind and haven't achieved saint-hood. So how could I say now that the official Church of Greece is heretical and lacks God's grace? Should I call it heretical only because of the calendar? And should I say that their bishops are damned? I am with the old calendar, but I think differently from the old calendarists.
Indeed, the calendar issue does not affect the salvation of the faithful because it is not a dogmatic issue. There can be differences between local churches in non-dogmatic issues of a liturgical or administrative nature. This does not deprive them of God's grace.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ! - Розваги
“The eighty-one-year-old Metropolitan Chrysostom was arrested in February, 1951, and after repeated attempts to change his views, was exiled to the Monastery of St. John in Lesbos, situated on a remote 2,500-foot crag, where he was to remain for over a year. The monks of the monastery behaved sympathetically, but conditions were very hard for an infirm, elderly man. The Metropolitan, however, constantly expressed his joy at being found worthy to suffer for his Faith, and his satisfaction at the resistance and perseverance of the Faithful in the face of persecution. We have a precious proof of his holiness from this bitter time: the police officer whose duty it was to guard him, looked into the Bishop’s cell one evening and, to his amazement, saw him standing in prayer with his hands raised, surrounded by a blinding heavenly light. The guard fell at his feet to ask forgiveness and subsequently became one of his most faithful spiritual
Glory be to God for all things!
What was his position?
@@hutdweller7430 He was a well known Metropolitan of the Greek ORTHODOX Church. He was one of the few who resisted the Calendar change. He was persecuted for this by the State Church. Arrested etc
I always loved this story because it shows us that being immediately reactive and "going with our gut" is not always the right decision. St. Joseph struggled with this issue and was humble enough to admit he may have thought incorrectly from the get after praying on it. Some people see a change of mind as a weakness, but here we see it as a necessary step on the spiritual path.
Not every issue we are faced with is black and white, and this story is a testament to that fact.
The New Calendar Greek Church is a schismatic sect
The passions always mislead us. God allows these temptations to help keep us fine-tuned. Watchfulness.
Absolute nonsense. As we see tidsy. THE GREEK NEW CALENDAR CHURCH IS A PROTESTANT SECT
It must be stated that Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Florina relics were exhumed and left a beautiful fragrance that filled the monastery
Thank you, Timothy. This is a huge temptation for many! Once in a while, in fact just recently, I have doubts that the enemy puts in my head about this matter.
It was an unfortunate, terrible thing, the introduction of the New Calendar. But as St. Joseph, St. John the Wonder-Worker and many other Saints have said: we still have grace. It's not a dogmatic issue that should be the cause of going into schism over.
Nice. Sometimes the enemy gets us caught up on areas we cannot control to get us isolated. Thanks for that comment. I’m right there with you.
St. John the Wonder-Worker did say we still have grace, and it's not a dogmatic issue, but he did still did support the Old-Calendarists.
@@godsaveus4380 Yes, definitely! I know that and I agree with you. Don't misunderstand, I'm not in favor of the New Calendar at all. I support the patristic calendar as the traditional one that should be followed. But I just happen to be in a jurisdiction that is under the new. But I'm not going to leave my parish just because of that.
And I'm not opposed to the moderate old calendarists who acknowledge the validity of the sacraments of the new Calendar churches
@@zakcaldwell8465 If you knew the struggle and persecutions OCs went through for holding to Holy Tradition, you might consider changing your mind. God be with you.
@@T_Wozna
Unfortunately they won’t and can’t. As per today’s Gospel reading, the fear of being excluded from the synagogue ( when our Lord worked miracles ) still influences and weighs heavily on people still to this day in choosing the wide path.
Those who quickly turned to violence, threat’s and intrigue were and still are the non canonical innovators.
May the new martyrs Abbesses Mariam and the young wife and mother Ekaterina who was killed by the police while defending a True Orthodox Priest in Greece, petition our Lord to grant us spiritual bravery, wisdom and grace from above to follow the narrow thorny path which leads to the heavenly Jerusalem!
Timothy, I'm glad you related this story. I have struggled to understand the issues involved and adopted the formula from someone of, "only potentially heretical" to describe the calendar deviation. The entire problem was a temptation sent to test the Church, in my view. It came from a unilateral decision by the Pope of Rome to alter the timekeeping of the entire Western world, probably in an attempt to assert by implication his own supremacy. So the decision was taken without a proper Ecumenical Council over the affairs of the Church, and was also done in coordination with the irregular "Pan-Orthodox Council" of Metaxakis in 1922 (another topic calling for a wise treatment).
Fundamentally, there is no dogmatic change, which always seemed apparent to me. But the problem has remained that it serves as a constant affront to the Church and its unity, since the imposition of the new rule was done in precisely such a way as to serve as a provocation. But what makes it potentially heretical isn't in the substance of the rule ot its awkward introduction. The real potential for heresy is that it may be subtly used to justify the harmonization of the true Church with false Ecumenism. If it is used after the fact to argue thus, then it is in fact heretical as a matter of dogma, but only for one who believes in it that way.
Actually, there are dogmatic issues involved, like the Pan-heresy of Ecumenism, which didn't exist while St. Joseph was alive. But we need a Pan-Orthodox Council to judge the whole situation.
The pan-heresy of ecumenism certainly did exist in St. Joseph’s time, though not as pronounced as it is today. It is noteworthy that even after the lifting of the Anathemas Athenagoras, when many on Athos and Greece ceased commemoration, many of our saints ultimately continued commemoration again at some point. St. Joseph’s disciples, including Elder Ephraim of AZ and St. Ephraim of Katounakia, show that breaking away and setting up a separate synod is not the route to go. I want the Old-calendarists of today to be in full communion with us, and I don’t pronounce a judgement on them that can only be pronounced by an Ecumenical Council, but we need to imitate the saints of our day, especially the consensus of the saints of our day, in order to not only confess the faith but actually overcome the schisms and heresies according to the patristic methodology. The way of life is inseparable from confessing the faith.
@@OrthodoxWisdom Thank you for your reply.
Elder Joseph's Synodia did stop commemoration of the Patriarch again when the anathema was lifted.
The thing about the Old-Calendarists is this: many of my relatives are Old-Calendarists, but still somehow in Communion with us. They were instrumental in bringing Elder Ephraim to America. He told so many people that they could belong to the parishes which are now under Metropolitan Demetrius.
Metropolitan Pavlos (who was the predecessor of Demetrius) confessed to Elder Ephraim. And some of his priests met St. Paisios specifically because they were confused about their status. St. Paisios told them that they could stay with the Old-Calendarists, as long as they don't become fanatics. One of the priests went back to the island of Chios.
Regarding the consensus of the Saints: there is a problem. Do we include their Saints? I think that there could be a good argument that we should since we still need a council to judge this mess.
The other issue is that they have a couple of people who are living right now, who have a real reputation for holiness, and work miracles.
I think that when things clear up, we will all be united again.
Thank you. I’ve been eager to learn about the holiest ones of the last few 20-30 amongst Old Calendarists. Can you provide names so I can learn more? This, along with examining and following Patristic methodology, are key!
@@OrthodoxWisdom Archbishop + Andrew ( 2005 ) of Athens - GOC
When His tomb was opened, the great schema was was as brand new, blood was coming from His relics which were the color of honey. There aren’t to many cases of this phenomenon ( blood flowing from the relics )in the lives of the Saints. I know of Saint Spiridon the prosphora baker of the Kiev caves lavra.
There is a video recording of the opening of Archbishop Andrews grave. His relics are displayed for veneration at the Holy Keratea monastery in Greece.
Also, just recently, 2021 the relics of Metropolitan + Epiphanios (2005) of Cyprus were also opened. The Lord also blessed His relics also with such a golden color of honey.
Elder Moses of Corinth was a spiritual brother to Saint Nektarios, and they were both spiritual children of the elder Pachomios of Chios. Elder Moses is venerated by the GOC as a Saint.
Saint new confessor Matthew the myrrh streamer has many miracles attributed to Him which are written down, I believe only in the new few years more information will be available in the English language. Saint Nektarios of Aegina, actually elevated St. Matthew to the dignity of Archimandrite.
Glory to God for the Saints!!!
Cute title
Glory to the Great God of the universe Who has guided us in turbulent times through His saints and beloved friends, those who have been given prophetic grace for our benefit according to the loving-kindness and great mercy of our God and King, the Most-Holy and Divine Trinity. When we needed help, the Most-Holy Trinity illumined our path in this most chaotic era, by directing us through His "enfleshed angels," Joseph the Hesychast, Paisios of Mount Athos, Philotheos Zervakos and Elder Ephraim of Arizona, to name some. Glory to God always, and may He keep us on the right path; and may we be watchful, to not stray with the misuse of our free-will
"I began to pray to the Mother of God, my ‘Surety’, in my heart. ‘Tell me and indicate my life’s path: Which side should I go to, the new or old style? Should I go to the cathedral or somewhere else?’ And I, the sinful one, prayed to the Mother of God during my obedience in the kitchen. When I finished my evening obedience, I went to my cell and thought in the simplicity of my heart, ‘Why don’t you answer me, Mother of God?’ But the grace of God did not abandon me, a sinner. He wants salvation for all. Suddenly the cathedral appeared before me, the same as it is: the same height, length and width. I was amazed at this miraculous apparition - how could it enter my small cell? But my inner voice said to me: ‘Everything is possible with God. There is nothing impossible for Him.’ ‘Well,’ I thought, ‘one must go to church in the cathedral according to the new style.’ Then, as I was thinking thus, a blue curtain came down from above, in the middle of which was a golden cross. The cathedral became invisible to me, and the inner voice said to me: ‘Go to the old style and hold to it.’ And I heard a woman’s voice coming from above the corner: ‘If you want to be saved, hold fast to the traditions of the Holy Apostles and the Holy Fathers.’ And then the same thing was repeated a second time, and the third time the voice said: ‘If you want to be saved, keep fast to the tradition of the Holy Apostles and Holy Fathers, but not these “wise” men.’ After this miracle, everything disappeared and I remained alone in my cell. My heart began to rejoice that the Lord had indicated the path of salvation to me, according to the prayers of the Mother of God.”
Please tell us where this is from.
@@godsaveus4380 From the life of Martyr Michael of Valaam. Everyone knows him. In every Russian Orthodox Calendar!
The Russians remained obedient to the Holy Tradition, the Greeks did not.
@@BodilessVoice Absolute correct!
@@BodilessVoice Only the Greeks who commemorated Orthodox Bishops wherever they were , stayed fast until they could get a Bishop of their own , under repentance first , then absolution, of their error did they get a Greek bishop to consecrate more.
Thank you.
I love listening to your narration and I love elder Ephraim with all my heart
Oh my gosh, thank you. I've been wondering about this
I am very grateful for this video i think it gives great context to The Royal Path by Fr. Seraphim Rose
God bless you for your content
Nonsense
@@alexpanagiotis4706 how so
@@OrthodoxcuberRead my comments.
A lot of great food in this, especially for this enquirer. God bless.
Lord have mercy on me, the sinner.
St Paisios said that the Calendar matter is not an ecclesiastical matter but a historical matter. He said the we Old Calendarists celebrate the Liturgy with New Calendarists, we are brothers in Christ.
We are not
@@alexpanagiotis4706 I see you've left an abundance of comments on this video. Unworthy and pitiful as I am, as much as I don't know anything about this, various Holy Saints agree the fruits of the Saints of the New Calendar is genuine. Even St Joseph the Hesychast, in this video reading, clearly agrees with it. Various Holy Saints (like St Paisios which the commenter above spoke about) also clearly spoke on the matter. So let's be prayerful, and slow to come of conclusions of anathema until the time comes. Lord guide us all, may He protect us from unjustly condemning others and reaping His Righteous Wrath on His fearful Day of Judgement.
@@SayanTheChristian AND the Most Holy Theotokos? The Holy Synods? The Holy Fathers? The Holy Canons?
@@alexpanagiotis4706 the Saints, especially our beloved Mother, will not contradict one another. Yes, you have a point. I get it. However, woe to those who speak with such certainty on matters that are not clearly confirmed. This ‘zealotry’ has been defined as ‘worse’ than even the New Calendar becoming a thing. Because zealotry completely transgresses the first and foremost commandment of Christ - love of God and neighbour. Though you may not see me as a brother, pray for me and may our Lord’s will be done.
@@SayanTheChristian GET AN EDUCATION!
I wish that everyone in EO was like Seraphim Rose and the Monks and Nuns. Most of the people that I met in EO were nothing like them though ☹
Most people aren’t saints? You don’t say…
@@Ephesians-de7dp I know, but I'm telling you it's like they weren't even trying. Most seemed like they were playing for the other side on purpose.
First, the Church is a hospital for the sick. How can you expect everyone to be healthy? Second, simply put, not everyone can be St. Joseph the Hesychast. Not only in terms of virtue but in lifestyle.
Expecting everyone to be a monk is dangerous. So is assuming that every monk and nun is holy. And even more, to assume that we deserve to be around only the wisest saints is pride. Things are the way they are because of us.
@@yeembus I know and I agree with you, but honestly it was very draining and disheartening having to deal with them and be around them.
@@jg7923 Yes, all the problems in the Church are draining. But does that give us permission to stop running? What would Fr. Seraphim have done? Or St. Joseph? They experienced the exact same things as us.
I listen to some videos on the Calendar issue and have to admit that as a Westerner it's not easy to understand.
Why?
Please tell me what a renovation or renovationist/ism is ? What repentance do we owe the world, and what do we seek ? Who's will do we pine to do, in Christ ? What command of obedience to be vigilant, to be wise as the serpents and to not shackle ourselves to the world and the ungodly ? Who do we serve ? What more "dialogue", what more "allies", what more "obedience" , what more "slippery slope" do we tempt God with in making "peace" ? Who's "bond servant" are we ? I will keep my peace in Christ and pray tearfully, Lord have mercy on me , a sinner.
Circadian Rhythms of our Spiritual Form
Thank you for reading this. Have you listened to Metropolitan Demetrius speak on this? He brings up St Ieronymos having a revelation opposite to that of St Joseph. And I believe his synods official position is that the broader church has grace but they are separated because of ecumenism. His homilies are often very profound
Yes, he is totally correct. When you listen to him, you know that you are listening to a "Genuine Orthodox" bishop, and definitely not a schismatic!
And many others. Elder Gervasios of Patras, Elder Ieronymos of Aegina, Papa Nicholas Planas....ALL AGINST THE NEW
How can it be the opposite of St. Joseph? Did it say that neither the Old or the New Calendarists were in the true Church?
@@colmcille9669 no, not that kind of revelation. He was talking about revelations of God's will for that particular person. So St Joseph was told to go new, and St Ieronymous was told to stay old.
@@WoodchuckNorris.8o Right, but as I understand it it was revealed to St Joseph that both calendars were ok but accusing the other of not being wasn't, so he stayed on the old calendar but couldn't stay with the accusing group who were creating a schism out of it.
The Calendar Question by Fr Basil Sakkas. St Philaret of New York wrote the intro and clearly defines who exactly went into schism by altering Holy Tradition.
Thank you for sharing. I’ll take a look.
About Fr. Basil Sakkas, Fr. Seraphim (Rose) wrote (and this is significant regarding the author’s mentality):
“I think the lesson of this is, first of all, to teach us not to be too certain of defining things (especially “strictness” and “economy”), and not to be too quick to “break communion.”
“Now we have a recent example in our own Church: Fr. Basil Sakkas of Geneva. Seeing that his own bishop had not broken all contact with the ’’ecumenist” jurisdictions, he broke off communion with him and asked our 1974 Sobor to answer unambiguously two questions (he sent us a copy of his appeal): (1) Are ecumenists and new calendarists heretics? (2) Do we have communion with them or not? Our Sobor did not give him a satisfactory answer, and he apparently now is with the Mathewites.”
- Letter to Daniel (May 29/June 11, 1976)
@@3devdas777 why are you posting this comment?
@@T_Wozna , it is noteworthy that while Met Philaret wrote the introduction to Fr. Basil’s article on the calendar issue that you recommended, ROCOR (including Fr. Seraphim) ultimately did not agree with Fr. Basil’s conclusions regarding the significance of the calendar issue, and when ROCOR refused to accept his conclusions, Fr. Basil left ROCOR for the Matthewites.
@@3devdas777 The Matthewites aren't really the ones we can consider. The GOC Florinites, particularly the largest group, are the ones who were closest to ROCOR.
The Most Holy Theotokos told Eldress Myrtidiotissa: "FOLLOW THE OLD CALENDAR- IT IS THE CORRECT ONE."
Old Calendarists were BEATEN, PERSECUTED, IMPRISONED, KILLED,...Churches desecrated, holy gifts thrown to the ground
A couple of corrections:
1.Bulgaria didn't change to the "Revised Julian Calendar" aka New Calendar until 1968, under Soviet pressure.
2. It is NOT a requirement to be under a bishop, though preferable that one is under one, if there's one that one is in agreement with.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church wanted to return to the true Orthodox Calendar.
#2 is correct. Who did the disciples follow? Who did the old calendar pateristic fathers follow? Although now the old calendar church do have bishops. They are not without leadership
Very precious wisdom that puts this issue to rest. May God give us wisdom to walk the Royal Path of Orthodoxy.
The New Calendar Greek Church is a schismatic sect
Christ is Risen.
The Encyclical of 1950 was bad, but the main large Old-Calendarist group does not say that we are graceless anymore.
But I wonder what St. Joseph would say today, considering that some pretty heretical encyclicals have come out the past few decades. This has been a temptation to many of us, especially since the Holy Elder says right here in the vision that the Old-Calendarists were all part of the One Church, but bickering; and since they don't say that we are graceless anymore.
And then, St. Ephraim of Katounakia said that the Church was so full of grace when he served for St. Joseph, but he always served for him as a zealot, since he left the zealots in 1975.
But the thing that is most confusing is the Old-Calendarist's saints, like Elder Hieronymos. He obviously didn't accept the encyclical of 1950, but we should be honest - he was with the zealots. I've met people who knew him. He would answer letters without even opening them! He was so awesome!
I pray that God unites us all since I believe that there are many good (or i would even say holy) Old-Calendarists. We need to find a way to work with them since so many of us are saying the same thing.
I have a friend under Metropolitan Agathangel. The Bishop came to visit his parish one day recently and the thing most pressing for their people was the sad fact that they can't be united with all of the good people struggling in the mainline ROCOR. From my understanding, he said that political issues get in the way of discussions.
I hope (and think) we will sort these problems out pretty soon, but it's a very tragic situation. And Elder Ieronymos is clearly a saint.
The Calendar issue is not important to Our Lord. It should be obvious really. We do not follow the teachings of Christ, we focus on things that are not important
@@annetteanastassi7433OF course it is you protestant
@@alexpanagiotis4706 Your manner shows that you are not even a Christian!
@@annetteanastassi7433You do not know Christianity is. You are a protestant.
On the basis of this report a royal mandate was issued decreeing, among other things, that “the Julian Calendar is to remain in force as regards the Church and religious feasts in general”, and that “the national festival of the 25th of March and all the holidays laid down by the laws are to be regulated according to the Julian Calendar.”
As a cloud descends upon Mount Tabor on the 6th and the 19th of August, I think that it shows that the Calendar issue is not an important matter with Our Lord.
You stated, I think that it shows that the Calendar issue is not an important matter with Our Lord.
Clearly the new calendarist, saw and see it as a problem, because it is they who persecuted the traditionalists!
Why then couldn’t we have both, if it’s not a dogmatic issue?
@gritsteel3225 Well I agree totally. From what I have read, it a historical matter and if it didn't bother St Paisios, and Our Lord, it shouldn't bother anyone else. My niece is with the Russian Orthodox and the OC and I am with the Greek Orthodox and the NC and it is not a subject that we discuss, it is not important enough. The Lord has shown that. So just ignore the pharasical types who make it a big issue.
It is very important
@@annetteanastassi7433The New Calendar Greek Church is a schismatic sect!
@@annetteanastassi7433
Sorry sister, when you say it wasn’t important enough, then why was it important to change it? You explained about your niece yet you don’t celebrate in unity.
The patriarch of Greece is planning to change Pascha to the papist easter in 2025.
If we keep with the mind set as a nonissue, then we don’t put orthodoxy first.
Remember there is no bishop with orthodoxy ☦
Our Cosmological Calendar is the most important! Shine Bright! MWM
“The above plan was put into immediate effect. In a short while, the basement of the Archdiocese in Athens and other towns was filled with the clerical robes of the True Orthodox clergy who were taken there, shaved, often beaten, and then cast out into the street in civil dress; many Priests underwent this process a number of times, while others were arrested and sent into exile. One aged Priest, Father Plato, was beaten to death by the police in Patras, and then hastily buried in a field to cover up the crime. All the Churches in Athens were sealed and their vessels taken, and a few Churches in other parts of Greece were even demolished. Soon no True Orthodox Priest could circulate undisguised, and even monks and nuns were not immune to these profane
Just sickening isn't it. Speaks volumes and makes on want to follow the old calendar.
The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to Martyr Monk Michael of Valaam:
"ALWAYS FOLLOW THE HOLY FATHERS. FOLLOW THE OLD CALENDAR, IT IS THE PATRISTIC ONE."
I thank you dearly for this content
The first concrete step towards that union was to be the adoption of the new, papist calendar… Already at the beginning of 1923, a Commission had been set up on the initiative of the government to see whether the Greek Church could accept the new calendar. The Commission reported: “Although the Church of Greece, like the other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, is inherently independent, they are firmly united and bound to each other through the principle of the spiritual unity of the Church, composing one and one only Church, the Orthodox Church. Consequently none of them can separate itself from the others and accept the new calendar without becoming schismatic in relation to them.
“What we need is a Time Machine and someone to impersonate one of Julius Caesar’s scholars who could then be so “brilliant” as to detect the more subtle inconsistencies in the day and then each year that the others missed, so the Calendar would never need revision in the first place.”…is what I might wistfully say if I were a more frivolous man.
In fact, it may be that God put these imperfections in the physical year so to test our commitment to the canons against the ways of the world.
This is so stupid. It’s just a calendar. It’s not inaccurate by divine design. It’s just an old, astronomically inaccurate calendar.
@@TrollsFormers05Also the Holy Fathers established this Calendar and SET ALL UNDER ANATHEMA WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THIS CALENDAR.
@@TrollsFormers05The New Calendar Greek Church is a schismatic sect.
@@alexpanagiotis4706
Where can that anathema be found?
@@littlefishbigmountain Go and search and you will find. The topic of the celebration of Pascha was more than once discussed by the Holy Fathers!
They do not call it Gregorian calendar because it has been condemned several times... thus they use euphemism "revised calendar" instead. Change was imposed by a Freemason Meletius Metaxakis and only viable explanation as to why those churches did not return back to the Julian calendar after his leave is that his successors were also Freemasons.
The other patriarchs spoke out strongly against the calendar reforms. Thus Patriarch Damian of Jerusalem and his Synod wrote: “The most holy Mother of the Churches is unable to accept the change at present because of the disadvantageous position in which, as is well known, she finds herself in relation to the Latins in the holy places, and because of the dangers of proselytism.” And Patriarch Gregory of Antioch and his Synod wrote: “Political factors produced the change of the calendar even though the whole of the Eastern Church keeps to the Julian calendar. The tendency to change the canons represents a great danger in our eyes.” And Patriarch Demetrius of Serbia wrote: “We have indicated the necessity of postponing for the time being the council that has been convened in order that the question be examined before an Ecumenical Council so as to decide on a single calendar for all the Orthodox Churches.
“The first victim was Bishop Germanus of the Cyclades, who died in the greatest grief when under house arrest on March 24, 1951, and was buried by the Faithful170; by the personal order of Archbishop Spyridon, they were not permitted to take the body to a Church, and no Priest was allowed to assist; even so, many were arrested at the cemetery.
Explanatory declaration by Bishop of Philomelion on having recited Symbol of Faith with “filioque”
Jul 27, 2023 | 21:39
Calendar supports the Doctrine, illustrates what is deemed holy by tradition. It is not mere administrative.
Codeword for "just accept the innovation, don't think about it too hard"
Please romanian subtitles!
Return to the Old Calendar
Very interesting. Just recently I happen to ask God for guidance to know how to act in a very strange and difficult matter. Sometimes I have a feeling about what is right, but there´s two problems: 1) how can you just trust feelings? 2) how can this feeling be reason enough to solve problems that you recognize on the base of logics?
This is a question for a priest and/or a spiritual father. Not for strangers online. God Bless.
@@colindree9802 I agree, but strangers can give some general direction.
The New Calendar Greek Church is a schismatic sect
☦️☦️☦️
In the end, the Grace of God led him on the path of tolerance, because of one greater good - the Unity of Christ's church, for whom He shed His precious blood. ❤
Complete nonsense. As you can see in these days. The Greek New Calendar State Church is a schismatic protestant sect
Bartholomew the CIA Patriarch who sold his soul for billiones of Dollars. Elpidophoros the pro gay - pro abortion, "Black life matters" Archbishop of the Greek protestant Church of USA. Sitting on pews...in beach clothes
“When we were still with the Old Calendarists, Papa Ephraim of Katunakia with the eyes of his soul, he would see bugs or sometimes mouse droppings on the altar” ! WHAT A HORRIBLE THING TO SAY! AND WHAT A HORRIBLE THING TO REPEAT!!! 👎🏼
If this is indeed true, and I believe it is, is it still a "horrible thing to repeat?
@@OrthodoxWisdom Absolutely offensive and downright scandalizing ! As if we don’t already have enough to forgive one another!
Might be best to ask why you are so scandalized and why myself and others are not. It is of course horrible the things he noetically saw upon the altar, but it is a blessing that God revealed this to him and then to us through him. God wouldn't reveal such things to scandalize us, but to help us know the truth which can set us free, as the Lord said.
@@OrthodoxWisdom you may want to justify it any which way you want, but holy scripture teaches us to speak the truth in love. I personally don’t care to perpetuate division among us and would speak up, if the shoe was on the other foot!
Glory be God! Thanks for sharing there is always a temptation to move to a hard right position, correctness is good, but it must always be together with love, humility, compassion and a desire for my brother the Old Calenderist to be helped and saved before me! At least we can pray and ask God to help us view these things that way, then maybe we can come to respect and dialougue the new with the old calenderists...
In June, 1950 the new calendarist Archbishop of Athens Spyridon Vlachos wrote to the Greek government that the Old Calendar movement was a form of pan-Slavism more dangerous to the nation even than communism! This was followed by a fierce persecution of the Old Calendarists, both Florinites and Matthewites.
Horrible crimes of the New Calendarists. Shame on this apostates and murders
Yes indeed, The New Calendarists committed viscious crimes. Members of the clergy can do wrong. It does not change that The Canonical Orthodox Church remained the same. The Old Calendarists may have been right in some things, but this does not change that they became schismatics. Declaring New Calendarists to be Apostates, Heretics, or anything else is an example of your lack of tenderness and love tords your Orthodox brethren.
@@haydeen6535 The Greek New Calendar Church is SCHISMATIC NOW. What an IRONY. IERONYMIS IS A SCHISMATIC BARTHOLOMEW TOO, 🤣🤣🤣
@@haydeen6535 Love what for? Apostasy? Modernism? Pro gay, pro abortion? Forget them. They are not orthodox. If they are - Luther Was too!
Elevating calendar dates to a level of such theological prominence that some would be willing to cause schism over it amounts to nothing but superstitious numerology. There is nothing spiritual about it. Whoever knows exactly the procedure for how the ecclesiastical calendar, specifically, the date of Pascha, is calculated by the Church, would see how much in error the old calendarists are. I advise all who are interested in this issue to learn how the Julian and Gregorian (more precisely, the revised Julian) calendars were devised, as well as how the lunar cycles were calculated. Pascha is calculated according to both the solar calendar and the lunar cycles. The lunar cycles are determined by the Orthodox Church according to a table of dates that repeat on a 19-year cycle. The interplay between solar calendar and lunar cycle is too involved to get into here, but the bottom line is that the Julian calendar is too slow because of its leap years by about 11 minutes per year, so that it is now over 13 days behind the astronomical solar year. Likewise, the ecclesiastical full moons now fall roughly 4 days after the true full moons. People don't realize that the Julian calendar and lunar tables were in line with the astronomical solar year in 325 A.D. when the 1st Ecumenical Council determined the date that Pascha would be celebrated -- the vernal equinox and the full moon coincided with the calendar. So the Julian calendar in 325 was in fact what the Gregorian calendar is today. Astronomy didn't change over the years, the calendar did, because it was inaccurate over the long term. The revised calendar that the Ecumenical Patriarch devised was even more accurate than the present Gregorian calendar. Too bad that ignorance prevailed over reason and knowledge. We are now celebrating Pascha on dates that the early Church never did! Unless Christ returns before then, in several hundred more years Pascha will be celebrated in the middle of July. Thus, unless you have the actual ecclesiastical table of dates before you and you know exactly how to determine the date Pascha will fall this year, next year or any other year, past or present, you are not qualified to judge the Church on the matter.
You are posting greek nonsense
Your Greek New Calendar Church is a PROTESTANT GREEK SCHISMATIC GROUP.
YOU SILLY GRERKS DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT ORTHODOXY IS.
Sitzing on pews with immodest clothingbis not worshipping God.
GREEKS = PROTESTANTS
You are posting ignorance, as is demonstrated by the fact that you do not offer any intelligent discussion of the facts I set forth and clearly do not have any idea how Pascha is calculated. Saying "greek nonsense" offers nothing. This is the bad thing about youtube: anyone can have a channel and just say things, even if they have no knowledge or qualifications.
@@alexpanagiotis4706
Glory be to God! Other Holy Fathers in our time show the same path, Bl Philotheos Zervakos, St Justin Popovic, others. It wasn't until the First Ecumenical Council where Pascha was uninformly decided...
Bl Philotheos Zervakos:
From Previous Vessels, p. 148:
He wrote, on the one hand, that the “new calendar was neither introduced into the Orthodox Church by an Oecumenical Council nor by a Local Synod. Rather, the Oecumenical Patriarch Meletios (Metaxakis), who was a thirty-three degree Mason, together with six anti-orthodox minded hierarchs, introduced it anti-canonically and illegally, thus showing contempt for the Orthodox Church and the traditions of the Holy Apostles and Holy Fathers.” With regard to the Old Calendarist groups, on the other hand who had separated from the official Church, the Elder wrote that they had likewise erred and fallen under anathema, in that they “are transgressors and scorners of the first of the Great commandment of Love. The commandment of love-they disdain it, violate it, cast it out, hating one another, biting at one another, beating up one another.” He was especially upset that “certain zealot old calendarists believe and are of the mindset that the Mysteries without the calendar are invalid and that without the calendar there is no salvation. A greater heresy than this does not exist!” Letters of Elder Philotheos to Papa-Demetri Gagastathis (dated January 20, 1960).
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Fr Seraphim Rose, letter 218, 311 (read the full letters):
All of this should be sufficient warning of the danger of going overboard on the question of “strictness” and “zealotry.” The danger of going astray on the “right” side has become so great now that Metropolitan Philaret [of blessed memory], when counselling Fr. Alexei Poluektov two years ago in his publishing of Vera i Zhizn, cautioned him not to use the word “zelot” at all (the milder word “revnitel”’ is sufficient).
I think the lesson of this is, first of all, to teach us not to be too certain of defining things (especially “strictness” and “economy”), and not to be too quick to “break communion.”
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Ecumenism and Schismatic Old Calendarist Zealotism, A letter by the blessed Epiphanios Theodoropoulos on the matter of Ecumenism and Schismatic Old Calendarist Zealotism.
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem was not polluted, even though he had been ordained a Bishop by the Metropolitan Akakios of Caesaria, who, albeit a self-declared Arian (and in fact the leader of a portion of Arians), continued to remain and to minister in the Church. Saint Anatolius had also been ordained a Bishop (and as a matter of fact, Patriarch of Constantinople), by the Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria, who was a Monophysite and a mighty protector of the heresy leader Eutyches, but who had not yet been convicted by the 4th Ecumenical Synod. So, if an ordination by Bishops preaching heretical beliefs (but not convicted Synodically and still remaining in the Church) does not pollute, then neither does the commemoration of them pollute, and even less so does communion with persons who tolerate them for the sake of providence and who continue to uphold the commemoration thereof.
The Old Calendarists, albeit "not comprehending, either those things that are said, or what they are reassuring", assert completely opposite things. (see also the book by Theodoretus Mavros). This being the case, those poor wretches must also be "polluted". Why? Because, as mentioned previously, they too (despite their theoretical proclamations - or, more correctly, in a vociferous and tragic contradiction to them), have in practice accepted communion (through common prayers and the administering of Sacraments) with persons who belong to the Church of Greece, which is in communion with the Patriarch! Hence?????
Dear fr. Nicodemus, the uniformity in feast-dates may be a good and holy thing (even though it was never fully upheld in the Church), but it is NOT a Dogma of the Faith - it is NOT a condition for salvation.
"No!" the Old Calendarist remonstrators cry out! "The disruption of feast-day uniformity (Question: When did the Church EVER have absolute uniformity in feast-dates?) has deprived the Church of God's Grace, and has rendered Her Sacraments VOID (listen, and shudder!) and that subsequently, the New Calendarists are also exempt of Grace - in other words, exempt of salvation. (!!!)
This hideous declaration, brother Nicodemus, constitutes a monstrous heresy and a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Those poor wretches have elevated into Dogmas of the Faith and conditions for salvation certain elements relating to....calendrical and feast days!
Of course, no-one regards the existence of two calendars in the space of the worldwide, Orthodox Catholic Church as a good thing. The change in the Calendar was unfortunate; very unfortunate. But from that point, up to the point of recognizing calendars as ...Dogmas of the Faith and hinging the authority of the Sacraments and the attainment of salvation from them, the distance became abysmal. The Old Calendarists could have continued to observe the old calendar, but at least continued to preserve their communion with the Church. That would not have entailed any danger. Instead, they went as far as severing themselves from the Church, for fear of....losing Grace and salvation!!!
I am not ignorant of the fact that there are Old Calendarists who do not accept such blasphemies, but what is the use, if there are others - and in fact leaders - who support those heretical views?
Fr. Philotheos Zervakos and Fr. Seraphim Rose never called the Old-Calendarists schismatics. They even concelebrated.
It depends on which Old-Calendarists we are talking about, it also matters what has happened since they reposed in 1980 and 1982, respectively, and it matters what the most contemporary saints of our day have done. That’s where we need to look: the consensus of the saints, especially those of the most recent times.
@@OrthodoxWisdom
We are Orthodox. We pray as one.
The unfortunate change of calendar, has created disunity and now the new calendarists are in unity with the papist on celebrating the birth of Christ!
Is it not said, if you join the schismatics, you become a schismatic?
@@OrthodoxWisdomThe New Calendar Greek Church is a schismatic sect. Full of Innovation. They are protestants! With pews, no prostrations, immodest clothing, no hair cover, ...
Elder Theodoropoulos had many errors in his writings. Don't trust "Greek Elders" of the New Calendar Greek Church!
It is not as though the Church received the old calendar from God. It was merely the world's best attempt to measure out a year in days up until someone created a better model. The better the model, the closer commemorations will be to the saints and events they mark. To consider schism over this implies schism is far too close to one's intellect.
You are posting nonsense
@@alexpanagiotis4706 Then you will no doubt correct me in my error brother.
@@colmcille9669 The change of the Calendar was not because of 13 days but because of ECUMENISM!
@@alexpanagiotis4706 In what way?