|
30/1/2006
QUESTION 1 |
Many allege that during the Annunciation,
the Mother of God conceived Christ after smelling a lily which was
offered to her by the Archangel. This fact is not found in any of
the Gospels, but is depicted in Icons. Moreover, the lily is
strongly regarded as a symbol of virginity. Is this fact true or is
this an innovation?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
30/1/2006
QUESTION
2 |
According to the sacred canons of our
Church, Clerics are not allowed to take secular or political
positions. But in contemporary history we have examples of clerics
(Archbishop Macarius of Cyprus, Damascenos of Athens ect.) who it is
clear have violated these canons. Was this permissible?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
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6/2/2006
QUESTION
3 |
I
came across your wonderful website and noticed that you have a
Sister Mariam at your Church as a Deaconess. Is she a properly
Ordained Deaconess as St. Nectarius had in Aegina? I have heard that
the Church of Greece has been thinking of reinstating this Order to
the Church just as she had in Ancient times.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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12/3/2006
QUESTION
4 |
In Turin of Italy, the Roman Catholic
Church safeguards a sheet which is considered by her priests as the
sheet that Joseph wrapped the Body of our Lord after it was taken
down from the Cross. What is the Orthodox view on the authenticity
of the Shroud?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
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24/3/2006
QUESTION
5 |
From various historical sources, we are
informed that Constantine the Great was guilty of many murders and
other grave crimes. Was his recognition as a Saint by the Church
correct?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
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8/4/2006
QUESTION
6 |
The holy light of Jerusalem does not reach every church of the Orthodox
world. What is the origin of the light which is distributed by the priests
who have not received the holy light and how can it be considered as
consecrated?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
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20/4/2006
QUESTION
7 |
Why do people call
the Holy Saturday Morning service as the First Resurrection and the
Midnight service as the Second Resurrection? Are there two Resurrections?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
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30/4/2006
QUESTION
8 |
In St. Chrysostom's Easter Sermon we read: "Ye who have fasted and ye who
have not, rejoice this day." Some Christians believe that St. Chrysostom
allows us to receive the Holy Communion on Easter without any preparatory
fasting. Is this interpretation correct or does the Holy Father mean something
else?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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13/5/2006 -
25/9/2006
QUESTION
9 |
Should the faithful kneel during the consecration of the Precious
Gifts? Some say that it is permitted to kneel everyday except on
Sundays while others say that it is completely forbidden. What
ultimately is correct?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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26/6/2006
QUESTION
10 |
We
maintain a list of Greek Orthodox namedays in Greek and English. We
have visited your site... some of the names that you include have troubled us since
they are not included in the Orthodox synaxarium. You have included names that are not canonised by the
Orthodox hierarchy and thus your list is invalid. Could you please
enlighten us.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
13/11/2006
QUESTION
11 |
According to a local custom, Christians who live in Macedonia walk on
burning coals on the feast of St. Constantine in order to honour him. Some
people claim that this custom has idolatrous roots and therefore it is not
acceptable. Is it permitted by our faith or not?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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11/1/2007
QUESTION
12 |
It
is claimed that the human race was reproduced through incest between
Adam and Eve's children. Is that true according to the scriptures?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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15/3/2007
QUESTION
13 |
In the General
Epistle of St. James, we read that Christians are not allowed to take
oaths. In spite of this, the Church performs oaths in her services which
are also included in her Liturgical books. How can something like this be
justified?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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24/4/2007
QUESTION
14 |
Some priests who took an active part in the wars of 1918 and 1940
kept on
performing the Divine Liturgy and other holy services despite the
fact they
had killed enemy soldiers. How could this be acceptable?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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11/5/2007
QUESTION
15 |
Christ preached the people to have love for
all men and to forgive each other. God in the Old Testament
proclaims “an eye for an eye”. Is this not a contradiction?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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10/6/2007
QUESTION
16 |
For what reason did Judas receive the 30
pieces of silver to betray Christ? As Christ had developed an
extensive social activity, it was impossible for the Scribes and the
Pharisees not to recognize him so as to arrest him.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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2/9/2007
QUESTION
17 |
Many
Christians show a special devotion to the bread and wine used in
their diet (they avoid disposing them etc.) because they see them in
some way as being “blessed” because of the Mystical Supper. Others
pay special reverence or anoint the oil from vigil lamps which are
lit in front of Icons or on the Holy Table. Lastly, some believe
that the flow of blood after partaking of the Holy Gifts results in
a desecration or loss of the Lord’s Blood which they see as flowing
in our veins after having Holy Communion.
Which of all these is true and which an exaggeration or rejectable?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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3/11/2007
QUESTION
18 |
The Sacraments of the
Western Churches are seen by the Orthodox Church as non valid except
that of baptism. In the case where people return to the Orthodox
Church, they are received only though the Mystery of Holy Chrism.
But on what does the difference between the sacraments rest? Either
Divine Grace acts on all or does not accomplish any.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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19/6/2008
QUESTION
19 |
According to our faith the sins that are confessed to a priest are
considered as non-existent and the person that has committed them is
fully forgiven. Despite of that, certain sins prevent someone from
becoming a priest. Why does this happen even after absolution?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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23/6/2008
QUESTION
20 |
According to the Holy Canons of our Church, archimandrites are not
allowed to bless a wedding. Why is this prohibition imposed?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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23/6/2008
QUESTION
21 |
According to the Holy
Canons of our Church the Christian Pascha cannot be celebrated on
the day on which the Jewish Pascha (Passover) is celebrated. Why is
this?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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13/9/2008
QUESTION
22 |
In which way and according to what
criteria was the separation of the canonical from the apocryphal
text done by the fathers? If the apocryphal gospels are not
canonical, why did the Church rely on them to formulate certain
feasts of the Mother of God such as the Dormition and Entry?
SEE
ANSWER ►►►
|
|
6/12/2008
QUESTION
23 |
When I baptize
Greek children, the "tradition" that the Greeks request is one where
the Godparents cover the child with oil after the priest has
anointed the child. They speak of having "baptized the child." (even
though it is the priest himself that immerses the child). I do not
see this practice stated in the rubrics in your euchologion, but it
is found in the bilingual "Priest's Service Book" (Mikron
Euchologion) printed in Greek and English by Fr Evagoras
Constantinides. The whole body anointing by the Godparents is not
found in Antiochian, Romanian or Russian practice. So, my questions
are as follows: Do you do this in the Church of Cyprus? What is the
significance/meaning of this? Is it not theologically incorrect for
a layperson to say "he/she baptized so and so" (I do realize they
can do this in an emergency)? Do you know when and where this
practice first started?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
6/12/2008
QUESTION
24 |
What is the proper Greek word or phrase to say to a person when they
ask for the blessing from a priest? We have these wonderful "Ya'
Ya's" who speak no english but come with their children and
grandchildren. I would love to respond to them, properly, in Greek.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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18/5/2009
QUESTION
25 |
The Orthodox Icon of
our Lord’s Resurrection has the inscription “Descent into Hades”.
How is this inscription justified as Christ did not descend into
Hades during his Resurrection but is coming out of it. Some Icon
painters use the inscription “The Resurrection”.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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24/6/2009
QUESTION
26 |
We know even from the ancient document
found at Saint Catherine’s in the late 1800's, bound at the end of a
Bible in Greek, Διδαχή των Αποστόλων - the "Didache" that baptism
was to be performed in “LIVING WATER”, which naturally includes a
river or stream, but also a lake such as the “Sea of Galilee”. A
layman from Russia has objected to baptism in the Mediterranean
“because it contains salt” [his words]. Please let me know if in
Cyprus there have been instances of baptism in the sea. If not, do
you know of any “Canon” which bans baptizing in the sea since the
seas are all “salt water bodies”, unlike a lake.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
24/6/2009
QUESTION
27 |
Is it “forbidden” by any canon or “custom”
to baptize a second infant or adult in the SAME water in the
baptismal tank in the church immediately after an infant has been
baptized and there are families expecting to have their infants
baptized? It is true that one must EMPTY out the water, and put in
FRESH WATER, and bless it, for a second baptism? I have never
encountered such objections until a fellow from Russia told me that
a priest is not allowed to baptize a SECOND person in the SAME
water, but must perform such a “second” baptism on the following
day!
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
2/7/2009
QUESTION
28 |
...My mother has for many years had
psychological problems. About six months ago a friend of a friend
came to our house and spoke to us about magic (witchcraft) having
been done on certain items and parts of the house. My mother
sprinkled Holy water on the items and they turned black. At certain
times my mother would find pins with cotton and other such items but
we didn’t pay them any attention. The person who told us about the
magic told us to take my mother to St. Paraskeva, to a certain
church, so that the Priest could read a prayer over her. This we
did. The moment the priest was reading over my mother she began to
say; “why most holy Lady and my Christ are they doing this to me,
what have I done to them?” and she was crying. After the reading of
the prayers, I asked her what happened and she told me that she saw
certain of our relatives holding in their hands human effigies and
stabbing them with pins, she also saw their faces... There are
4-5 people who are doing these things, when we see them we say the
Jesus prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me.
There are times when we are forced to meet them. My mother fears for
us that maybe they would try to harm us. I ask for your help...
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
4/7/2009
QUESTION
29 |
I have visited your
website many times and consider it a great source of information and
an archive of Church Scriptures/Rubrics. Though, I have a question
regarding the practices of our Orthodox Faith.
Are all unmarried clergy (ie. archimandrites, bishops) required to
receive a new name at their first ordination (that of deacon)?
I always thought a new name was given, but I have discovered that
this is not the case for some clergy/hierarchs.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
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24/8/2009
QUESTION
30 |
While it goes back a few years, I remember
seeing the Church of Cyprus a number of times condemning the wrong
teachings of freemasonry. Has anything changed in this regard?
Although all my life was spent in the Greek Archdiocese of America,
as is sadly the case with a number of other clergy in the GOAA, my
family was abandoned by the hierarchy in large part because of this
very issue...
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
11/10/2009
QUESTION
31 |
Some
people claim that certain professions (e.g. actor, singer, lawyer
etc.) are not compatible with Christian life and spirituality. Is
this view acceptable or not?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
13/12/2009
QUESTION
32 |
In
your Ecclesiastical Calendar for December, please correct the days
of fasting. The eating of fish ends on the 17th of the month. You
have continued this until the Eve of Christmas which is a day that
not even oil is allowed.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
16/12/2009
QUESTION
33 |
Since you write icons, please let me ask if you know or have read
why behind our Lord in the icon of His Ascension, we see at the
bottom, 2 semi circles, and behind Him, 5 concentric circles, each
in a different colour, or 4 plus a black centre. In two places I
found that these circles represent the Seven Heavens, because of the
statement of the Apostle Saint Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians
4:10 that Our Lord has “ascended up far above all the heavens.”
[Does this word “all” not suggest more than only “three”?]
Furthermore, that the All-Holy Trinity dwells in an inaccesible
abode, precisely above all the “Seven Heavens”. I do not see how
this could be attributed to Gnostic heretics. At one time, I assumed
the term “7 heavens” was alien to Orthodoxy but I have found it in
St. Irenaeus “Against the Heresies" Book 2, ch. 30:7”.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
16/12/2009
QUESTION
34 |
I want to ask you about
the identity of the “Son of Man” in Daniel 7:13 which contrary to
what we see in liturgical texts where we read with the “Son of Man”
is brought Before the Ancient of days, and that this Ancient of days
is Christ our Lord, therefore not God the Father. Against this, we
see that none other than a very competent person, disciple of Saint
Polycarp, namely according to Saint Irenaeus in 4 instances
explicitly declares our Lord Himself is this Son of Man, and that
God the Father is the “Ancient of days” before whom our Lord, is
brought, advancing on clouds, and so does Saint Justin Martyr in 2
places in his Dialogue with Trypho a Jew, state that the Son of man
is Christ our Lord.
The Russian Church in Exile published an official statement
declaring that the Son of man is not our Lord, because they have
declared that the Ancient of days is Christ himself, and not the
Father. I wonder if at times, certain prelates choose to believe
they are doctrinally, dogmatically infallible with their own pious
persuasion and perhaps ignorance of Holy Scripture, in addition to
disregarding what we see left in the writings of Saint Justin the
Martyr, and Saint Irenaeus, whom I view as far more credible than
Russian prelates, notwithstanding their position in “authority”.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
26/3/2010
QUESTION
35 |
I was wondering if You
could briefly explain the ranking of priests in our Church. I am a
little confused with the titles (or ranks) of Presbyter (Πρεσβύτερος),
Oeconomos (Οικονόμος) and Protopresbyter (Πρωτοπρεσβύτερος). I
originally understood that the Epigonation was worn by Oeconomos and
Protopresbyter (plus Archimandrite) priests only, and that they
alone could be confessors. Yet I know of Presbyters who wear the
epigonation and are confessors. And of Archimandrites, of who wear
the epigonation, yet are still not confessors. Does not the
epigonation have a connection to the rank of confessor? Do these
ranks among the priests determine what a priest can and cannot do (ie.
wear a pectoral cross, hear confession)?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
26/3/2010
QUESTION
36 |
Why
is it that in the Divine Liturgy, the Orthodox Church uses leavened
bread for Holy Communion. The Roman Catholics state that they use
unleavened bread in their ‘Eucharist’ because Jesus used this type
of bread at the Last Supper (as did the Jews of Moses's time during
Pesar) as it was the only permitted form of bread during Passover.
Why is it then that our Church uses leavened bread in the Eucharist?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
16/4/2010
QUESTION
37 |
I
see many icons in Orthodox Churches either for veneration of the
faithful or for purchase. What I notice with some (if not many) of
these icons is that they have clearly been printed from a computer
or a printing machine, and have then (usually) been glued onto a
wooden plaque. I had always assumed that icons must be written by an
iconographer (with paints) and, after the recommended ‘churching’ of
forty days, they are made holy and genuine. Therefore, are these
printed versions proper/holy icons?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
31/5/2010
QUESTION
38 |
This
may sound strange, however I have heard that in the Jewish tradition
especially those who lived in the time of Jesus, they would pay
professional mourners to mourn over their dead. When Jesus performed
resurrections there would be mourners that would weep over the dead
and it is clearly stated in the miracle of Jairus’ Daughter that
there were mourners there. Therefore would you be able to tell me
where this tradition arose from, and what benefit is there-if there
is one- in hiring mourners to attend the dead. Also is the miracle
of Jairus’s Daughter the confirmation of the promise given to the
prophet Ezekiel that God will one day open the graves and raise all
the dead (Ezk 37:1-14)?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
14/6/2010
QUESTION
39 |
With regards to the G.O.A. of America, I have
seen many things connected to this Archdiocese that are quite
unique/unfamiliar. The trends amongst the clergy are different to
those typical of Greek clergy (in Greece and the diaspora). Also,
the churches look different in many ways: very simple (if any)
templons; the use of musical instruments and of male/female choirs
(singing in a non-Byzantine way). In other words, the Greek Church
established in the U.S.A. seems extremely westernized and I cannot
understand why. Are any of these things a breach of Canon Law? Why
are they permitted and are unique only to the G.O.A. of America?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
7/7/2010
QUESTION
40 |
I
have read on Wikipedia that the Archbishop of Cyprus is bestowed
several unique honours. An example of this is the pastoral staff his
Beatitude uses. It is different from others given that it lacks the
double serpents and in place has a round ball with the cross on top.
Given the lack of authenticity Wikipedia's articles contain, I was
wondering if you could explain these honours or privileges (and any
others) that are bestowed upon the Primate of the Cypriot Church.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
7/7/2010
QUESTION
41 |
I
have noticed that the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, currently
His Beatitude Theodoros, wears something unique when fully vested
for the Divine Liturgy. It is a vestment that is almost identical to
the epitrakhelion. It is worn over the sakkos, and (usually) has
icons sown of various Apostles and Saints. Can this be seen as a
second epitrakhelion being worn, or is it simply an Alexandrian
tradition that the one (and only) epitrakhelion be worn over the
sakkos?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
21/7/2010
QUESTION
42 |
Which is greater, is it compassion or the law? In the New Testament
Jesus says we must be compassionate, but at the same time pious Jews
were determined to live by the law in order to find accusation in
His Judgment, least He slip. If we take the adulterous woman, Jesus
says, he who has not sinned may throw the first stone at her,
keeping this statement in mind- (it was the "clean" Jews who asked)
for He preached about having compassion towards others, yet they
wanted to cause him to "fault" by saying that she should be stoned,
because that is what the law required. therefore can it be said that
compassion and love for they neighbour is more important than living
in the law. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he says; He who does not
know God will be judged by his conscience. Therefore is following
your conscience sometimes better? For the Lord gave us a law
engraved not on a table of stone but a table of flesh. However is it
fitting to follow the law to its very letter, as pious Jews once
done?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
21/7/2010
QUESTION
43 |
I
was curious if you had any idea why the Kypria (Cypriot) Menaia
differs so radically from the Church of Greece Menaia for the
feastday of Saint Luke the Apostle (Oct. 18)? It is interesting to
me that I have not been able to find any other phylada (pamphlet)
that shows a Liti for that feast, except in the Kypria Menaia. In
addition they have an alternate Apolytikion that I have not seen
elsewhere. Strangely enough, at my parish, they were using a
completely different Apolytikion for St. Luke, which I have since
learned comes from Slavic texts. This has caused certain problems,
since that particular Apolytikion does not have a Greek version!
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
28/9/2010
QUESTION
44 |
In
the Ἡμερολόγιον of our
Archdiocese, there is a section dedicated to wedding guidelines. It
states, “Ἐπιτρέπονται κατ' οἰκονομίαν
γάμοι Ὀρθοδόξων μετά ἑτεροδόξων Χριστιανῶν...” What is this
οἰκονομία that we have in our
religion? What is its meaning and purpose in the Church?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
28/9/2010
QUESTION
45 |
On
Holy Saturday, as he makes his way towards the Holy Sepulchre, the
Patriarch of Jerusalem is accompanied by four to six distinct men in
uniform. These men wear green jackets and red, Ottoman-style hats.
They also follow the Patriarch and his delegation during litanies
and processions. I was wondering if you could please explain who
these men are and what their connection is to the Church in
Jerusalem.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
16/11/2010
QUESTION
46 |
Our
local Churches here often conduct memorial services (μνημόσυνα)
during the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. To be more specific, these
memorial services are conducted after the singing of
«τό ὄνομα Κυρίου
εὐλογημένον ἀπό τοῦ νῦν...» (Blessed is
the Name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore) and
before the Dismissal. I have heard of the memorial services being
conducted after the Gospel reading in the local Antiochian Churches.
Also, I have noticed that memorial services do not seem to be
conducted on Sundays in Cathedrals like those of the Annunciation in
Athens and of St George in the Phanar.
I am a little confused with the different practices.Therefore I ask,
when should memorial services be conducted (κατά τήν τάξιν) on a
Sunday? As the Divine Liturgy is about life, Christ's conquering of
death, should a memorial service be conducted after the
«Δι' εὐχῶν» (By the prayers of
our holy fathers…) and begin immediately next with the
«Εὐλογητός ὁ Θεός
ἡμῶν πάντοτε...» (Blessed is our God…)?
What is the local custom of the Churches in Limassol?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
8/1/2011
QUESTION
47 |
I
have a question about the praxis in the orthodox church. Is the Talk
-Omilía a part of the Divine Leitourgy, or it is not a regular
component of it?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
27/1/2011
QUESTION
48 |
I
had not looked at your English translation of Proskomide until
now... I did not yet have a complete English translation for me to
see the tiny differences between the established Greek text... I
noticed the English translation I received from America, and where
the translator, in English, uses the word “Prosphoron”. I wrote to
one of the priests stating that only in one Greek-English dictionary
I have did I find, in Greek, “Prosphoron”, in addition to “Prosphora”.
In the Hieratikon and/or Leitourgikon, only “Prosphora” is found in
the Greek text. This afternoon, I found “Prosphoron” in your English
translation - which you know I greatly admire, so I wanted to ask
you to tell me if this is used in Demotic Greek? Until now I had
never before seen “Prosphoron” but only “Prosphora” in English
translations... The Greek-English dictionary of Divry and Collins
Pocket Greek, both have prosphoron. Is this neuter form found in
other books ?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
8/3/2011
QUESTION
49 |
Is it true that
monks only eat fish, or are they permitted to eat meats (i.e. red
meat, poultry) too?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
8/3/2011
QUESTION
50 |
What is the
difference between the terms Ιερουσαλήμ and Ιεροσόλυμα?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
8/3/2011
QUESTION
51 |
Is
there a limit on the number of εγκόλπια hierarchs are permitted to
wear? I at first thought the Primates of the Orthodox Churches are
permitted three, Metropolitans two, Bishops one...but have seen
otherwise.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
26/6/2011
QUESTION
52 |
In
the case of a wedding between an Orthodox Christian and a heterodox,
during the Service, is the crowning part (The servant of God N. is
crowned to the servant of God N.) omitted?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
26/6/2011
QUESTION
53 |
Must all people wishing to enter the Holy Orthodox Church through
baptism be baptised with a name of a Saint or derived from a holy
event or anything similar (e.g. Ευαγγελισμός - Εvangelos/Εvangelia
and Σωτήρ - Sotiris/Sotira)? I thought this was the case, and
personally prefer it, yet I know of an infant baptised into the Holy
Orthodox Church with the name Bella Mia.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
26/6/2011
QUESTION
54 |
Why do Deacons rearrange their orarion (like that of a subdeacon)
when they commune the honourable Body and Blood of Christ during the
Divine Liturgy?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
2/9/2011
QUESTION
55 |
During a συλλείτουργο (co-celebration) of priests, for example, does
only the presiding priest perform the καιρός (i.e. "O Lord, send
Thine hand from Thy holy habitation above..." )? And in the case of
a Bishop presiding the Divine Liturgy, do the priests not perform
the καιρός, leaving it to the Bishop to perform?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
9/9/2011
QUESTION
56 |
Some weeks ago I read a book on baptism and I noticed that the
exorcism that precedes baptism is referred to as “exorcism of the
catechumens”. Since their target is the demons and the demons are
the “exorcised” entities is it correct from a theological point of
view to state that these prayers constitute the “exorcism of the
catechumens”?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
17/9/2011
QUESTION
57 |
In
cases of imminent death of a Christian is a priest who has not been
granted the authority to hear confessions allowed to hear their
confession and read the prayer of absolution?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
22/9/2011
QUESTION
58 |
Some people claim that celibate priests are not capable of giving
advice on issues regarding family and relationships since they do
not have relavant personal experience. Could that be true?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
23/9/2011
QUESTION
59 |
The absolution of our sins in mainly granted through the sacrament
of penance but other sacraments and sacramentals are also considered
as means of forgiveness and absolution since this request appears
quite often in their texts. What is the right approach towards the
absolution granted through the sacrament of penance compared to
other sacraments or services?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
26/9/2011
QUESTION
60 |
What is the purpose of the gynaeceum that we see in Christian
churches? Couldn’t the separation of women from the rest of the
community be considered an act of discrimination? Is this the reason
why women were allowed to stand at the left side of the church in
recent times?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
27/9/2011
QUESTION
61 |
Are Christians allowed to befriend atheists, heretics or people who
follow other doctrines/religions? Are they allowed to associate with
them even if they propagandize their beliefs?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
29/9/2011
QUESTION
62 |
In
Greek-speaking areas Pure Monday (Clean/Green Monday) is usually
celebrated with joyful festivities that include dancing and wine
consumption. In what terms could this festive atmosphere be
compatible with the spiritual character of Lent? Should all these
customs be abolished in the long run?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
5/10/2011
QUESTION
63 |
Some people claim that a deceased person's soul visits the places
they have lived when they were alive. This supposedly happens for 40
days after their death. Is it true?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
5/10/2011
QUESTION
64 |
There is this person that lives in Odessa Ukraine he talks like he
had a direct phone line to God. He has a University and teaches the
revolution of the mined. I have seen his kind here in the States
before and the bottom line is dollars. He states that Jesus the
whole story is a Church lie. He states Jesus lived in Odessa died by
fire and is buried there. Now I have heard some things in my life
but, never this. I believe first he is a crack pot and an alarmist
when it comes to world matters. As far as Religion goes what he
talks about is like he came from another world.
Could you please tell me if you have ever heard of a story like this
before or is this some new kind of movement?
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
12/12/2011
QUESTION
65 |
I
wanted your opinion with a matter that is very important to me. It's
about same-sex relations. I wanted to ask why does the church hate
and discriminate the gay community, if Jesus' message was to love
everyone?! Why does the Church - who preaches this message,
discriminate against homosexuals? I also would like to know your own
honest opinion about the subject.
SEE
ANSWER ►►► |
|
12/1/2012
QUESTION
66 |
Is
it possible for the sacrament of holy unction or other prayers to be
read without the direct consent of the patient (e.g. in cases of
comma or brain-dead patients etc.), given the fact that the holy
grace acts upon the man only through his own free will and choice?
SEE
ANSWER
►►► |
|
12/2/2012
QUESTION
67 |
During his ordination, as he processes around the holy Altar while
Dance, Isaiah is sung, a cleric kisses the epigonation of the
presiding bishop. What is the significance of the epigonation in
this case?
SEE
ANSWER
►►► |
|
12/2/2012
QUESTION
68 |
Having watched the Divine Liturgy broadcast online through RIK
(Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation) many times, I have noticed that
immediately after saying By the prayers of our holy Fathers..., the
priest closes the Royal Gate and the faithful exit the Temple. Is
antidoron not distributed by the priest in Cyprus?
SEE
ANSWER
►►► |
|
14/3/2012
QUESTION
69 |
I
would like some clarification regarding the Divine Liturgy of St.
Basil, conducted on the Sundays of Great Lent. Is the οπισθάμβωνος
ευχή of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil as follows: Ο ευλογών τους
ευλογούντας...? According to the texts on Υour website, it is
another prayer, but during the past two Sundays, the priests at our
churches here in Melbourne, along with those conducting the Divine
Liturgy of St. Basil in Athens (broadcast via ΕΡΤ), have been using
Ο ευλογών τους ευλογούντας... Is this justified, or are they simply
making a careless mistake?
SEE
ANSWER
►►► |
|
18/3/2012
QUESTION
70 |
I
would like to ask for your advice on a problem I have been facing
lately. I never had many friends but I consider those I have really
valuable. One of those valuable friends is a 22 year-old guy that I
met in college... I respect and love him like my brothers... The
problem that I am trying to deal with is the fact that an aspect of
his life is quite different to what I would consider moral.
Specifically, he leads a life full of sexual pleasures, having
countless girlfriends and considering sex as one of his major needs
that he cannot live without. Although I have tried to talk to him,
nothing seems to work...
Could I just ignore this parameter of his life and focus on those
elements in his character that have attracted my respect and
love?... Could I still be friends with someone who willingly does
something I consider cheap and dirty?... Your own view on the
situation and how I can handle it would be really important to me.
SEE
ANSWER
►►► |
|
3/5/2012
QUESTION
71 |
Why did most of the Jews not accept Christ as the Messiah as they
had waited many many years for him to come, what were the reasons
they turned against him?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
3/5/2012
QUESTION
72 |
Why after Christ wasn't any of the Jewish religion followed e.g.
circumcision, the Jewish Passover and other requirements of the Law?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
26/6/2012
QUESTION
73 |
Recently I have been asked to become a sub-deacon and I am a little
unsure of the duties required of me and my allowances and
restrictions.
Also is a sub-deacon allowed to administer Holy Communion if given a
blessing?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
27/6/2012
QUESTION
74 |
As
you know, the holy myrrh was sanctified this year during holy week
at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. I discovered that this myrrh is used
during the mystery of chrismation, but I must ask: is this its only
purpose? I was under the impression that the pleasant fragrance that
is sprinkled on the congregation during major feast days, and on the
epitaphios during the evening service on holy Friday was called
myrrh.
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
3/7/2012
QUESTION
75 |
I
did not find anyone asking you about the mystery of confession.
I grew up with this mystery, and took it for granted. Now in
practice, I see it as being taken out of context. From revealing of
thoughts for discipleship in monastic setting, this mystery is now
become the Latin LEGAL sacrament to access communion, a "passport" .
What is the intended meaning of this mystery for an Orthodox
Christian who has not separated himself from the Church through
actions like killing, denying our Saviour, or the like? What would
be the practical application of confession for an Orthodox layman?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
14/7/2012
QUESTION
76 |
I
had been told recently by a relative that the Holy Communion
administered to the faithful who are ill is not the same as, or is
somehow 'different' to, the Holy Communion administered during the
Divine Liturgy (i.e. Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Chalice).
I considered this to be absurd, as Holy Communion is surely one (the
same at all times and in all places) just as Christ is one.
Therefore, I ask: since it is typical for Holy Communion to be
consumed entirely by either the deacon or the priest at the
conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, what happens when a priest is
called, for example, at 2:30 a.m. on a Monday to administer Holy
Communion to someone who is on their deathbed? Where does the Holy
Communion come from? Is there always Holy Communion kept in the
tabernacle?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
3/9/2012
QUESTION
77 |
I
am sorry to disturb you again with a question concerning the making
of catechumens and baptism/myron-anointing. I will soon baptize a
Greek baby.
I usually follow the ritual according to the Russian typikon. A
major difference is that we do not anoint the whole body before
baptism, but only forehead, ears, breast, hands/feet, and we proceed
to baptize.
On your website you have published the complete text, to be found in
official euchologia. However, I have looked at many videos of
baptisms performed by Greek priests, and noticed that the ritual was
consistently shortened, and many prayers were skipped. For example:
after the baptism, chrismation and tonsure followed immediately,
without any prayer (or ablutions, before tonsure) in between.
What is the general practice ? Which prayers are usually skipped in
Greece or Cyprus?
I feel that the complete service is long and it may be very tiresome
for the baby and for the family. Plus, they are Greeks, and may be
expecting a service "à la Grecque" !
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
10/9/2012
QUESTION
78 |
What is the symbolism, if any, of elevating the αέρας above the
officiating high priest as the Creed is recited during the Divine
Liturgy?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
10/9/2012
QUESTION
79 |
During the consecration of a church's altar, is there any particular
reason for which the officiating high priest wears almost a second
set of vestments (always white and very simple) over his vestments?
Or is it simply for the sake of protecting his vestments from the
waxes, oils, wine, and honey? And are αντιμήνσια used to clean up
the oils, wine, and honey on the altar?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
12/9/2012
QUESTION
80 |
What is the real meaning of the custom of blessing of kollyva in the
feasts of saints? Some people say that they are offered as some kind
of commemoration of the saint while some others believe that they
are offered for the souls of the deceased who were named after the
saint. There is also the view that kollyva are brought to church for
the sake of those who celebrate the feast. In some villages they are
also blessed in the feasts of the Lord and Virgin Mary. Is this
correct?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
24/9/2012
QUESTION
81 |
Last Sunday I attended the Divine Liturgy at one of the two churches
I regularly visit. The parish priest was away on holiday overseas,
and so we had a substitute, an elderly priest just ordained to the
priesthood at the start of the year. I assisted him during the
administration of Holy Communion, by holding the red cloth, and must
say that it was agonising, as he was hasty and careless. A two- or
three-year-old boy approached the chalice in his mother's arms. The
boy was restless, moving his head constantly. Nonetheless, the
priest proceeded. Of course, the boy moved his head and some of the
precious Blood of Christ had clearly fallen onto his shirt. I told
the priest, in the hope that he would then consume the precious
Blood, but he claimed that nothing had fallen, having not even
bothered to take a closer look at the boy's shirt. 'It's fine,' he
told me, while the boy's mother smiled it off as if there was no
problem (obviously the Holy Gifts were nothing but 'bread and wine'
to her). Therefore, my question is: What should a priest do in
situations when the most precious Body and Blood of Christ is, in my
opinion, misused? Is he not obliged to consume anything that has
fallen off the spoon, even onto the floor? And when the Blood of
Christ falls onto the red cloth, what becomes of the cloth? Is it
washed in some specific way considering that it may contain the
precious Blood of Christ?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
29/12/2012
QUESTION
82 |
I
hope you can help me with the next question which I received after I
told my clients, that the Apostle Barnabas was stoned to death in
the year 57, after he came to Cyprus with his nephew Mark. The
question was as followed, where was this written? I thought it was
in the apocrypha. Is this correct and if so, where exactly?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
31/12/2012
QUESTION
83 |
Is
it possible that the Divine Liturgy may be served twice on the same
day, in the same temple, and on the same altar, but by different
priests?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
31/12/2012
QUESTION
84 |
Why does the numbering of Sundays according to the Church not follow
a logical order? For example, 20 January 2013 is the 12th Sunday of
Luke, and 27 January 2013 is the 15th Sunday of Luke.
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
3/1/2013
QUESTION
85 |
Thanks for your website on the Hieratikon. I am sorry to trouble you
with requests for info, but I cannot think where else to turn.
The typical translation of the Hieratikon says, as you say "He
plundered Hades when He descended into Hades. He embittered it, when
it tasted of His flesh, and this being foretold by Isaiah when he
cried: Hades said it was embittered, when it encountered Thee
below." Or says "Isaiah, foreseeing this did cry: 'Hell, said he,
was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions."
The Hieratikon stands on its own, and needs no justification of any
sort, and certainly none other than the authority of John
Chrystostom, and the place that this Pascal Homily has been given in
Orthodox liturgy and tradition. (And thanks again for having a page
on it!!) However, I am puzzled by this quotation, St John
Chrystostom's quotation from Isaiah. I have searched and searched --
on Hell, Hades, Sheol, bitter, and various Hebrew words for bitter
-- (in Bible search engines, and places that had the Septuagint on
line as well, and in orthodox discussion loci) and cannot find any
passage that seems to me (I am not a scholar in these things, and
may well be missing the point) to be the passage in Isaiah that St.
John Chrystostom is referring to here. Can you tell me what passage
in Isaiah St. John had in mind, or refer me to a source (preferably
online) that discusses this matter?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
3/1/2013
QUESTION
86 |
Hello My Wife was born in Russia and her Name in Russian is Ludmila.
She says that 28 September is her Name day and it was always that
day in Russia. Going on the internet, some sites say 16 Sept and
others 18 Sept. We have a Russian Christian Calendar and it says
nothing of her Name Day. Maybe you could help us with this.
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
24/1/2013
QUESTION
87 |
I
have a question regarding the baptism of our baby girl. I am a
Catholic while my husband is an Orthodox. We have been married in
the Orthodox church in Cyprus. Now we have a beautiful baby girl. I
would like to baptize her twice...once in Cyprus and once in Poland,
in that order, where I come from. Is that possible? The main reason
for doing this is my family... they will not be able to attend the
baptism here, which is very important to me.
Also I would like my baby to have godparents from both sides, my
husbands and mine. Can you please advise if there is a way to
baptize the baby twice? She will be raised in Cyprus in the Orthodox
religion, attending the church here, as this is where we live.
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
5/3/2013
QUESTION
88 |
My
sons ( 7 and 11) are Ιεροπαιδες (altar boys) in our French-Greek
parish in France. They do what they are told to do but if they could
learn a little bit, it would be better I think. The way processions
and other things are done are sometimes different, in different
churches. In our church the Priest doesn't want show them how to do
a day of the week because he has no time and during the liturgy he
doesn't want to be disturbed praying. Well there is an old servant
he's a very kind and very simple person but he is not very really
able to explain...
Have you ever written some kind of manual for altar's boys? Or does
it exist even in Greek (a friend of mine will translate it, I am
sure of it)
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
10/3/2013
QUESTION
89 |
Many contradictory views on Mary Magdalene’s life come to light
lately. It is clear that most of them come from untrustworthy
persons that have nothing to do with the Church. But who was Mary
Magdalene in reality according to the teachings of our Church? Was
she a prostitute that was relieved from a heavy demonic possession
by Christ or was she a righteous person?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
|
22/3/2013
QUESTION
90 |
When it is appropriate to do concelebration in vespers. When is it
acceptable to upgrade a service to include an entrance, even if it
isn't originally called for. Sometimes it is very easy to include an
entrance, like a Friday evening, because the dogmatic theotokion
gives plenty of time to do one, even if it isn't supposed to happen.
Is it appropriate for a group of priests to get together and make an
entrance? Must we upgrade to entrance if there are many priests, or
do we instruct them not to participate on certain days? On what days
is it permissible, and on what days is it not permissible?
SEE ANSWER ►►► |
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