Letter to the Editor (printed May 17, 2004)

"Dhrope Mas"   (shame on us)

Dear Editor-in-Chief Calonaros, 

I am a cradle, Greek Orthodox raised in an ethnic Greek community, Tarpon Springs, Florida.  I am presently a member as a retired priest at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Pierce, Florida.  During my pre-ordination days in the Church, I served twice on the Board of Directors and the elected treasurer of St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Our family both financially supported and were founding members of St. Catherine's. 

We members of our family were deeply spiritually hurt when St. Catherine's practiced illegal gambling - "Bingo".  However, we were rescued from our despair by our beloved Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.  He ended by Ecclesiastical Proclamation all bingo fund-raising by parishes.  Once again MONEY was sought before spirituality.

  Our spiritual wounds were reopened when the parish priest of St. Catherine's, namely Fr. + John, decided to rent the parish hall on church property to a Jewish "reform" congregation for MONEY.  The parish hall stage was used by the rabbi for apostate religious services.  These wounds were further deepened since this same stage in the parish hall was used for Orthodox Sunday services and consecration on an altar erected for the Holy Eucharist and Divine Liturgy services.  All this was due to the reconstruction and preventative collapse of the dome of the Church proper.  Once again we were rescued as this priest was deposed and defrocked due to a media front-page expose, involving the priest in a scandalous affair and SHAME to all parishioners of St. Catherine's.

Our spirits rested for a while, until recently, during Great Lent and the Triodion Period,  permission was given by both Archbishop + Demetrios of the Archdiocese and Metropolitan + Alexios, Atlanta Diocese, to allow St. Catherine's parish to conduct its annual Greek Festival well into Great Lent - nearly two weeks.  There presently is no rescue to our inner spiritual life and working of our souls in trying to resolve this current inner conflict.  As you are well aware, the Sacrament of Marriage is never allowed during Lent.  During this Triodion Period, our Orthodox Church urges us to turn inward and is one of fasting and overcoming un-Godly desires in our souls. 

This year, all Christian churches celebrate Great Lent, and Pascha, at the same time.  Are we not a terrible witness as the One True, Holy, Apostolic Church to violate Our Holy Period of Lent?  Since Orthodoxy is the anchor to Christianity, is this not helping to remove the anchor and let the ship drift into the rocks?  Even Mardi Gras of New Orleans celebrates before Lent.  The festival menu service of "fish" cannot compensate by allowing choice between fish, fowl or meat.  Is this not a compromise of the Church Fathers and our True Doctrine and Canon?  It is appalling that St. Catherine's parish priest, congregation, board of directors would even request permission from the two hierarchs.  It becomes apparent, St. Catherine's parish and the hierarchal allowance and exception was made for MONEY.

I know the Julian calendar, I know the Gregorian calendar.  Is there an alternative calendar that aids the economia of the Church that I do not know of?

  "Dhrope Mas" (SHAME on Us!)

  Yours in Christ,

  +Metropolitan Archbishop Haralambos, Primate of the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalus Church in Exile Grand Prior and Chevalier of the Order of Holy Sepulchre (O.S.S.) Orthodox Priory in America.

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