Time for a New Constantinople – in US

[Joseph]

Time for a New Constantinople – in US

Theodore Kalmoukos

June 12, 2010

BOSTON – The answer given by the American born Metropolitan Nikitas of Dardanellia, who served as Metropolitan of Hong Kong for a decade, as to why he is going to become a Turkish citizen was disarming when he said, “If it’s about strengthening the Patriarchate, I’ll do anything.” Regardless if someone agrees or disagrees with what he said, the reality is bitter that we have arrived an a beginning of the end point in Constantinople. The shrinkage of the Greek Community of Constantinople is nightmarish, and the lack of qualified persons at the Ecumenical Patriarchate is visible. Even just a passing look at the Patriarchal personnel is enough to understand this.

We completely understand the anguish and the agony of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew about the survival and the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We have said before that Patriarch Bartholomew is really a man gifted with many gifts from above, but it does not mean that he is infallible. Those who had the opportunity to get to know him close up would agree, I imagine, with the observation that his physical, as well as his spiritual strength is astonishing, since he is 70 years old already. It seems that the sensitive and serious issue of his succession at the Patriarchy concerns him a lot because he is prudent man and knows that no one is permanent on this earth, and that was the reason behind his move to request the Turkish government grant to hierarchs who live and minister outside of Turkey, as only a Turkish citizen can hold the Patriarchate post. The issue is delicate in many respects because it involves experiences, thoughts and historic memories Greeks carry with them through life. After all, the reality is that the Turks are the inexorable slaughterers and fragrant killers of Hellenism.

The deserted and destroyed churches of Pontos and Asia Minor in which the Patriarch liturgizes once a year with special permission by the Turkish Authorities are the constant reminders of the Turkish atrocities. Also, the closed Theological School of Chalki and the St. Sophia Cathedral, the Great Church of Orthodoxy today are crying reminders of who the Turks really are. The reality is only one, and it is bitter, that the Turks have almost extinguished us but we continue to hope. I am of the opinion that it would have been better if instead asking the Turkish Prime Minister to grant to the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne who reside outside of Turkey with a ruling of his own of his cabinet – which can easily be overturned by another Turkish Prime Minister in the future – to instead ensure a constitutional regulation that would provide that all the Orthodox hierarchs everywhere or of the Greek Speaking Orthodox to be candidates for the Patriarchy and be able to vote. The one who would be elected Patriarch could then be granted Turkish citizenship. After all, there is the precedent of the late Patriarch Athenagoras who was elected Ecumenical Patriarch form Archbishop of America, and he traveled to Constantinople on the airplane of U.S. President Henry Truman, and the Turks handed him the Turkish citizenship the minute the aircraft arrived at Constantinople’s airport.

This way the slavery and the embracement of the Orthodox Church will come to an end. Let me explain: the Synod of the Ecumenical patriarchate is obligated to submit the list of candidates for the Patriarchal Throne to the Turkish Government for approval. The government has the authority to delete from the list any hierarch considered unwanted. We are speaking about the silent tragedies of the Orthodox Church that, unfortunately, are widely unknown, especially in our Greek-American community.

The Turks did not delete the current Patriarch’s name. Bartholomew was the most capable of all the hierarchs at the time some 20 years ago and naturally he was elected by the Synod to the Ecumenical Throne. Today at the Patriarchate there are just two or three hierarchs who could become Patriarchs. Time is flying, and Bartholomew realizes that his time is getting shorter and he has to think about his successor. After all, the Patriarchal role is pivotal for the life of the Church as the Primate. We may say and write that we follow the Synodal System but in actuality it is the Authority of the one man, the Patriarch, that counts.

I like to state from the beginning that I believe fervently in the principle of the “unmovable things” according to the Pauline expression, and that the natural and historic See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the Queen City of Constantinople. On the other hand we should be realists. The myths, the thrills and the legends that say that “After the passing of time the sites will become ours…” are good because sometimes we need myths and thrills and legends to remind us of the past and the things of the past that we lost, but reality should make us touch down. Our generation has also its own historic responsibilities towards the Church and the Genos (Hellenism) and the responsibilities cannot be assumed with murmurs and sentimentalisms. We should begin to vision a New Constantinople here, yes, here in America. Let me reveal the vision:

Let us purchase 200 acres of land in New York where the Greek-American population is mostly gathered, or in Washington to be more in accord with the Orthodox Ecclesiology since Washington is the capital of this country

Erect a Patriarchal headquarters similar to the one that exists today at the Phanar and also a St. Sophia Cathedral after the architecture of the historic St. Sophia of Constantinople

Name the area (the compound) New Constantinople and let the Patriarch use it as his winter headquarters

Appoint a Patriarchal Tenens back in Constantinople in Turkey to take care the day to day responsibilities of the Archdiocese of Constantinople. Today’s high speed technology makes more than easy the communications and the Patriarch from New York or Washington will be on top of things all the time. The Patriarch will be able to move, act, decide, freely here in the U.S. without the pressures and the oppressions by the Turks

The Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology I Boston to be named New Chalki and to be advanced to be the best Theological School of the world.

All the Orthodox Jurisdictions of America to be submitted and united under the ecclesiastical and canonical order of the Ecumenical Patriarchate each keeping its cultural characteristics

I am of the opinion that the Ecumenical patriarchate will not only (not) lose its ecumenicity, but on the contrary it will be strengthened or if I may use the expression it will be resurrected because as it is now it gives the impression that it is on death-way. We also need a fund to be established to collect 100 million dollars initially so the Patriarchate can draw for its operational expenses. I am certain that all the Orthodox faithful will contribute generously. The move of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will help the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and Greek American Community to rediscover their true and authentic ecclesial and cultural heritage. I believe that we will begin to discover what the Church is from what the Church is not. The same will apply to Hellenism which we have the tendency to confuse it with Helladism (Greekness.) When I speak of Hellenism in the ecclesial context I mean the fact that Hellenism is the historic cultural flesh of Orthodoxy and Christianity at large as a matter of fact.

A new world is been forming and reforming, which passes us and leaves us behind. It seems that we have become “remnants” of another unquestionably glorious era, attached to the privileges and titles of the past which have become irrelevant today. Take for example the titles of the Archons. The vision proposed here is not an easy task, but I also believe that is doable if we dare to envision about the tomorrow of Orthodoxy and Hellenism.

[peter]

Dear Joseph,

a splendig idea ! As Konstantin as emperor removed from Rome, and founded the New Rome, let's go now to the United
States, leave behind the turkish-islamistic aggressors and shame them. The New Constantinople could get back its free
mind, without any respect and concession to the moslem-oppressors. But be aware, that influence of free masons, spread in the states, might overcome to the project. And there would be no sense on this idea, if a kind of east-west-conflict from former decades would be reproduced inside orthodoxy. We don't need war between Moscow and Washington Patriarchates. Could this be a theme on pan-orthodox council ? Please excuse my bad englisch language.

With christian greetings to the canadian brothers !

peter

[Nassos]

And under which emperor will the capital be transferred within which empire?

[Joseph]

Dear Joseph,

a splendig idea ! As Konstantin as emperor removed from Rome, and founded the New Rome, let's go now to the United
States, leave behind the turkish-islamistic aggressors and shame them. The New Constantinople could get back its free
mind, without any respect and concession to the moslem-oppressors. But be aware, that influence of free masons, spread in the states, might overcome to the project. And there would be no sense on this idea, if a kind of east-west-conflict from former decades would be reproduced inside orthodoxy. We don't need war between Moscow and Washington Patriarchates. Could this be a theme on pan-orthodox council ? Please excuse my bad englisch language.

With christian greetings to the canadian brothers !

peter

Hello Peter,

This article is from the Greek-American newspaper "The National Herald" from yesterday. I think it is an interesting idea, however the writer addresses only the Greek community in NA. That is a mistake, since there are more non-Greek Orthodox Christians in NA than Greek, this idea should, if implemented, include these Orthodox as well. If it is undertaken as a purely Greek enterprise it will fail.

However, if the EP would make the move to NA and appeals to and invites to participate in his patriarchy all the different Orthodox jurisdictions here (on an equal basis) then I think this idea has a real chance of being successful. I believe that all jurisdictions would be willingly submerge into the NA patriarchate under the EP without hesitation.

The caveat is however, that the EP must extend his hands to the non-Greek Orthodox and forgo a purely ethnic Greek idea of a NA church. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening with the people currently running the Phanar. But God's wisdom is outside of what we understand and His will will be done...

Cheers Joseph

[Joseph]

And under which emperor will the capital be transferred within which empire?

Emperor Joseph I, Ultimate Supreme Commander of the Universe and Ruler for Live of Nooksack County in the Empire of the Never Rising Sun...

Cheers Joseph
PS: neither an Emperor is involved nor an Empire, but a Patriarchate of a City that doesn't exist anymore and and Patriarch with a church that almost doesn't exist anymore.... Throw a Greek a lifeline and he will undoubtedly refuse it, because it may be made from non-Greek fibers...

[holzi]

The caveat is however, that the EP must extend his hands to the non-Greek Orthodox and forgo a purely ethnic Greek idea of a NA church. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening with the people currently running the Phanar. But God's wisdom is outside of what we understand and His will will be done...

The next Partriarch will be a Russian anyway...

P.S.: der Kreuzgang vermisst dich!

[Nassos]

And under which emperor will the capital be transferred within which empire?

Emperor Joseph I, Ultimate Supreme Commander of the Universe and Ruler for Live of Nooksack County in the Empire of the Never Rising Sun...

Cheers Joseph
PS: neither an Emperor is involved nor an Empire, but a Patriarchate of a City that doesn't exist anymore and and Patriarch with a church that almost doesn't exist anymore.... Throw a Greek a lifeline and he will undoubtedly refuse it, because it may be made from non-Greek fibers...

Good old Joe, as I know him.

The next Patriarch will be Turkish, as usual.

[Joseph]

The next Patriarch will be Turkish, as usual.

No, he will be American or nothing.... Didn't you hear, the Phanar is moving to Washington. Mr. "Hopebearer" just gave a speach at Saint Vladimir's seminary. Despite having pissed on the OCA last year, he was invited to give a speach there... His arguments, I will be very friendly here, are lame to not existing.... At least he refrained from calling his hosts (the OCA) the "so called OCA". If that is the best the Phanar can offer, I don't think they have a leg to stand on, regarding "ruling" the NA Church.... here is the link: http://www.aoiusa.org/blog/2010/06/gree ... n-the-usa/ Please read the comments!!!!

Ich gehe am Samstag in den Yukon.... wenn ich zurückkomme werde ich das jurisdiktionelle Durcheinander hier in Nordamerika dann aufräumen...

Gruß
Joseph

[holzi]

Ich gehe am Samstag in den Yukon.... wenn ich zurückkomme werde ich das jurisdiktionelle Durcheinander hier in Nordamerika dann aufräumen...

Schau zu, daß du Gold findest!

[Joseph]

Ich gehe am Samstag in den Yukon.... wenn ich zurückkomme werde ich das jurisdiktionelle Durcheinander hier in Nordamerika dann aufräumen...

Schau zu, daß du Gold findest!

Ach Holzi, das ist nicht nötig, alle meine Zähne sind repariert..... hahaha. Ich werde aber nach Lachs angeln! Damit die Goldzähne was zu tun kriegen...

Bis bald

Joseph

[Nassos]

And this is the ... so called English section, right?

[Joseph]

And this is the ... so called English section, right?

英语？
我不知道....
约瑟夫

[Nassos]

Dis issata Engarish, ah, Engarish, ahhhaaaaahhh.