Bishops and priests must serve their people with simplicity and Christ-like love
Orthodoxy has traditionally avoided clericalism, yet in more recent times this very corruption of priestly service has enter the doors of the Orthodox Church. It has led some clergy to seek out, for personal gain, even the heavy burden of hierarchical service to Christ’s Church. Motivated by their desire for princely honor, their sight is clouded so as to endanger not only their own souls, but the souls of the laity who are in need of humble, fatherly, pastoral care, and who will suffer under their “pastoral” guidance.
This quest for honor has led many clergy to participate in a culture of abuse, where they even turn on one another in their sad attempt at aligning themselves with “officialdom”. The culture of abuse that is encouraged and fomented by refusing to live in adherence to the simplicity and humility of Christ’s example, is not much different than that of the grade school pecking order where the bully builds alliances based on fear.
It is the same culture that chooses to ignore destructive behavior which undermines the message of the Gospel, and displaces the ministry of healing, replacing it with a worldly culture not unlike that of the fiefdoms of medieval Europe. Those in priestly service must be close to their people, serving as both fathers and brothers, ever being gentle, patient, and merciful. Those in priestly service must be animated by inner poverty, and give themselves over in the freedom of the Lord. Their lives must be in witness to the outward simplicity and austerity of life as exemplified by Christ Himself.
Orthodoxy must be returned to the basics, putting off all royal pretensions and princely ways. Our bishops need to lead their dioceses with biblical standards based on love of their priests, and love of their people, for rule by fear and tyranny is not of Christ. Priests, too, must lead their people as loving fathers, and not as local governors appointed by Caesar.
These are dangerous times, and the people of God must be given the spiritual tools needed to thrive as society falters and Christianity itself is under increased attack. The road ahead requires bishops and priests be more than religious officials, they must be holy men who lead their people as loving, caring, and merciful pastors.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Monday November 16, 2015 / November 3, 2015
25th Week after Pentecost. Tone seven.
Martyrs Acepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter, and Aeithalas the Deacon, of Persia (376).
Dedication of the Church of the Great-martyr George in Lydda (4th c.).
New Hieromartyrs Basil, Peter, Basil, Alexander, Vladimir, Sergius, Nicholas, Vicentius, John, Peter, Alexander, Paul, Cosmas priests and Simeon deacon (1937).
Virgin-martyr Evdokia (1938).
New Hieromartyr Sergius deacon (1942).
Martyrs Atticus, Agapius, Eudoxius, Carterius, Istucarius (Styrax), Pactobius (Tobias), and Nictopolion, at Sebaste (320).
Venerable Acepsimas, hermit of Cyrrhus in Syria (4th c.).
St. Snandulia of Persia (380).
Venerable Anna, daughter of Prince Vsevolod I Yaroslavich (1112).
Venerable Elias of Egypt.
St. Achaemonides, (or Hormisdas), confessor, of Persia (4th).
St. Winifred of Treffynon (Holywell), N. Wales, (630) (Celtic & British).
Translation of the relicts of St. Edith, nun of Wilton.
St. Theodore, confessor, bishop of Ancyra (8-9th c.) (Greek).
New Martyr Hieromonk George of Neopolis, Asia Minor (1797) (Greek).
Martyrs Dacius, Severus, Andronas, Theodotus, and Theodota (Greek).
St. Hubert of Maastricht (727) (Neth.).
Venerable Nicholas, Radiant Star of the Georgians (1308) (Georgia).
St. Pimen of Zographou, Mt. Athos (16th-17th c.).
The Meeting (1196) of St. Sava (1235) and St. Symeon the Myrrh-gusher (1200) of Serbia at Vatopedi, Mt. Athos.
St. Pirmin, bishop and monastic founder (753) (Germany).
Scripture Readings
2 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Greeting
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Final Judgment and Glory
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
Luke 11:29-33
Seeking a Sign
29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body
33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.
Spot on. I admire your courage. Way too many of the clergy live in I-am-entitled mode. They seemingly believe in omnipotence of Church and its leadership, and not of GOD. I doubt they chose the right attitude to approach GOD–that is certainly the bad example for those around.
Agree 100%. We are suffering the same illness in the Catholic Church, both latin and eastern rites. Pope Francis is doing a good job in bringing out into the public the need to be “shepherds with sheep scent”.
Did you notice I posted a photo I took on Vashon Island, of sheep in today’s blog article?
Eulogite! I noticed right away because it is such a peaceful setting 🙂
Your article on clergy is right on the dot Father.
I have posted comments and questions to you but never see them listed. Am I sending to wrong blog? HELP! Thank you for your daily morning offerings.
Love in Christ,
Eleni Dresner
Eleni36@gmail.com
Yes, Father, I did.
What more fitting image could there be as a reminder to all in a position of authority (parents, teachers, scout leaders, police, clergy, physicians . . .) of our obligation to serve and care for all those over whom we have authority.
While the abstinence of carnal pleasures (overrated anyway) is to be admired, the abstinence of power-drunkenness is to be commended as well. Power should not be the way of compensation for the lack of access to carnal pleasures. The perfect monk, whether or a member of organized organization or some sort of hermit, should understand what it means to be fit for a relationship with GOD.
Thank you, Abbot Tryphon. Always good for me to ‘hear.’
I’m posting this comment by Archbishop Mark, OCA bishop of Eastern Pennsylvania. This was posted on facebook.
How very true. Somehow, for some, it is no longer about Christ, the Church, or the Gospel, it is all about one’s self! Bishops and Priests need to remember there is only one Bridegroom of the Church. Our Stewardship is as John the Baptist, we point all to Christ. He must increase and we must decrease.
I wonder if you have any comment concerning what a parishioner is to do if they find themselves in a congregation with a spiritually abusive priest?
Thank you for speaking on such relevant things Father. I think this issue is a major challenge & stumbling block for many these days, especially the youth. We come to the Church tired of materialism & seeking spirituality & are some times to our great sorrow met with material abundance & hierarchs adorned in overly costly vestments among other things. Though I find much beauty in the Church & am currently a catechumen, it is hard to reconcile these types of issues some times. The picture of the bishop with the mitre & staff does not bring Christ to mind in any way for me. I would like to see the bishop in a cassock with holes in it! I find much inspiration in our great Saint John Maximovitch, & it brings me great joy to hear of his folding paper mitre with paper icons glued on that his orphans made for him. This is the way it should be. Christ had 1 tunic & no home. Why do the hierarchs parade around with multiple silver & gold necklaces & vestments which if sold could feed a whole family for at least a month? May God enlighten our hearts & minds to live in the simplicity of Him who we claim to follow after, & may he raise up Saints like those of the early desert fathers who truly cared not for material wealth. This hypocrisy is the very reason so many are turned away from Christ. Forgive me.
Dear Father Thank you for your daily meditations. I have been praying Psalm 95 for most of my life using the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. Psalm 95 called the Venite from its Latin title Venite, Exultemus Domino is the usual appointed Psalm before those appointed for the rest of the office. All of us need to be reminded both clergy and laity that we all are “sheep of his pasture” and not to be abused by each other. This is also true in todays world when not only clergy can try to “lord it over their flock” but it also true when laity try to ‘lord it over each other” and also attack their Reverend Fathers in God. We should never abuse each other as Christians as we are all “sheep of his pasture”. Thank you for your daily meditations and your prayers! Father Don Lee, AHC
Thank you Father Tryphon for this meditation about a sad issue of our times that is not so much discussed.
The book at this link is also offering the solution to the problem, but it takes great faith to overcome the spiritual damage. Honesty and truth can reverse the effects of this kind of damage in the hearts of the faithful.
http://www.svspress.com/beauty-for-ashes-the-spiritual-transformation-of-a-modern-greek-community/
Glory to God!
Dan
Beautiful photo. And you do have many online “sheep” in your pasture!
What a refreshing dialogue. Thank-you so very much for these thoughts and reminders for each one of us as we try to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
“A saint is never consciously a saint – a saint is consciously dependent on God” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.