Metropolitans Evangelos removed, Methodios suspended

[George95]

Ecumenical Patriarchate Communiqué - Ecumenical Patriarchate - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

 

[ArmyMatt]

Lord have mercy

 

[SingularityOne]

On the Reception of Holy Communion | Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston

 

[Justin-H.S.]

Drama llamas

 

[rusmeister]

Any reason why? There’s zero information on who is who, who did what, and why.

 

[All4Christ]

Any reason why? There’s zero information on who is who, who did what, and why.

The only thing I saw was potentially regarding him disregarding the directives about the common spoon with COVID. If I remember correctly, the metropolitan of Boston wouldn’t stop using the common spoon, despite directives from the archdiocese to follow the local government, which was against the use of a common spoon. I’ve no clue with the metropolitan of New Jersey.

That said- I don’t see anything directly from the archdiocese explaining the reason.

 

[Platina]

Constantinople suspends Metropolitan of Boston, transfers Metropolitan of New Jersey, suspends Archdiocesan charter

The Synod’s communique specifies that he was suspended for “canonical transgressions,” and OrthoChristian has learned from informed sources that the Metropolitan’s canonical violation was to convene a meeting of the Eparchial Synod to discuss the Archdiocese’s troubled pension fund without the approval of Archbishop Elpidophoros.

 

[Xenophon]

The only thing I saw was potentially regarding him disregarding the directives about the common spoon with COVID. If I remember correctly, the metropolitan of Boston wouldn’t stop using the common spoon, despite directives from the archdiocese to follow the local government, which was against the use of a common spoon. I’ve no clue with the metropolitan of New Jersey.

That said- I don’t see anything directly from the archdiocese explaining the reason.

That's probably the real reason, not the pension fund. Elpidophoros again looks like the bad guy, acting with the wherewithal of an abusive father.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

That's probably the real reason, not the pension fund. Elpidophoros again looks like the bad guy, acting with the wherewithal of an abusive father.

"Because of this recent trouble, again, many have speculated that this is why Met. Methodios has been placed under suspension.

However, the Synod’s communique specifies that he was suspended for “canonical transgressions,” and OrthoChristian has learned from informed sources that the Metropolitan’s canonical violation was to convene a meeting of the Eparchial Synod to discuss the Archdiocese’s troubled pension fund without the approval of Archbishop Elpidophoros."

Sounds like damage control.

 

[Platina]

Considering that the Patriarchate itself said that Communion is to be served with one chalice and one spoon, I don't see that they would be too upset about that. But convening the Synod without the primate's knowledge is a serious canonical violation. They also were discussing the pension fund without him because they don't support his plans regarding the fund. So a Synod without him in order to find a way to ditch his plan sounds like a viable reason why Met. Methodios was suspended.

 

[Nick T]

Considering that the Patriarchate itself said that Communion is to be served with one chalice and one spoon, I don't see that they would be too upset about that. But convening the Synod without the primate's knowledge is a serious canonical violation. They also were discussing the pension fund without him because they don't support his plans regarding the fund. So a Synod without him in order to find a way to ditch his plan sounds like a viable reason why Met. Methodios was suspended.

To add to this, here in the UK we're under a new Archbishop appointed by and very close to the Phanar and we've been instructed in no uncertain terms that the method of communion (one cup one spoon) is not to be changed and that this position comes from Constantinople.

 

[All4Christ]

To add to this, here in the UK we're under a new Archbishop appointed by and very close to the Phanar and we've been instructed in no uncertain terms that the method of communion (one cup one spoon) is not to be changed and that this position comes from Constantinople.

It’s interesting then that the Archbishop Elpidophoros instructed his parishes in his area to use multiple metal spoons then.

 

[Nick T]

It’s interesting then that the Archbishop Elpidophoros instructed his parishes in his area to use multiple metal spoons then.

Looking things up it says here (Constantinople: There is no need to change the means of distributing Holy Communion) that apparently the exact decision of the Synod was that there is "absolutely no need to change the [existing] manner" but that hierarchs in the diaspora are permitted "to employ temporary measures to deal with the problems arising from the laws of the local polity".

I guess that would be Archbishop Elpidophoros' justification for his instructions, but its clearly something the Synod doesn't think is necessary and I can attest is certainly not permitted practice in the Archdiocese of Thyatira and Great Britain at least. I'm not sure about the other diaspora Archdioceses though.

 

[Platina]

BTW, this article from GreekNewsOnline agrees with OrthoChristian's reporting about Metropolitan Methodios: Elpidophoros considers "blessing" the suspension by the Patriarchate of the Charter of the Archdiocese | Greek News

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

Lord have mercy, without getting too much into the politics of it all, these type of events throughout 2020(plus the shutdown of churches even before government directives) has scandalized many ,and has harmed our witness to the heterodox.

 

[Xenophon]

BTW, this article from GreekNewsOnline agrees with OrthoChristian's reporting about Metropolitan Methodios: Elpidophoros considers "blessing" the suspension by the Patriarchate of the Charter of the Archdiocese | Greek News

This looks like the EP being tyrannical and playing Pope - as has become usual.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

Both Metropolitans are outspoken opponents of Archbishop Elpidophoros, so this came as no surprise.

 

[E.C.]

Meh. The Diocese of New Jersey will be better off without that Greek chauvinist of a bishop.

 

[abacabb3]

I honestly wonder if the Greeks are heading towards a schism, not into Old Calendarism but between liberal and conservative lines. At least in the US. Greek practice back in Greece is still conservative, but there has been a complete loss of discipline in the US. Then you have the Ephramites which are extremely conservative. I wonder if they will ultimately jump jurisdictions (I am guessing ROCOR or Bulgaria.)

 

[Xenophon]

I honestly wonder if the Greeks are heading towards a schism, not into Old Calendarism but between liberal and conservative lines. At least in the US. Greek practice back in Greece is still conservative, but there has been a complete loss of discipline in the US. Then you have the Ephramites which are extremely conservative. I wonder if they will ultimately jump jurisdictions (I am guessing ROCOR or Bulgaria.)

(probably Bulgaria if that were to happen...)