A Worthwhile Read, Along with a Commentary

A commentary on Peter Marudas’ article entitled

20^th Anniversary of Patriarch Bartholomew’s Enthronement,

published on November 5, 2011, in The National Herald

Congratulations on a well thought out and provocative article.  It reflects the present reality in most all of the parishes throughout the United States.  Indeed a treat.  It should be used as a primer by all the Clergy, both before they enter, and after they graduate from Holy Cross College.  The advice of the anonymous priest quoted in the article should be heeded.  The entire article should be read by as many people as possible.  The lessons are innumerable.

The Clergy in America MUST change.  As the quoted priest said “... unless we [Clergy] change, not in dogma nor belief, but in how we approach our people, then this may be the last generation of born Orthodox who will remain Orthodox.”  (Emphasis supplied.)  Pettiness should not blindly guide them.  They have been invested with clerical not imperial robes. 

It is not too late to save Orthodoxy in America.  As a categorical imperative, the Clergy must earn the respect of their Orthodox flocks.

Let us pray that our present Hierarchs, if they wish to remain “spiritually relevant” to us and to the next generations, will not be “... arrogant, intellectually and theologically mediocre, administratively incompetent, and most importantly spiritually deficient.”

The future of the Greek Orthodox Church is in the hands of the Bishops and the Priests who governs us spiritually.  They should rise to the occasion, do God’s work, and guide us.

Best regards,

/s/ 

Nick J. Colessides

Email: nick@nickjcolessides.com