Saint Michel Archange,
défendez-nous dans le combat,
soyez notre secours contre la malice
et les embûches du démon.
Que Dieu lui fasse sentir Son Empire,
nous vous en supplions!
Et Vous, Prince de la Milice Céleste,
précipitez en enfer,
par la Force Divine,
Satan et les autres esprits mauvais
qui rôdent dans le monde pour la perte des âmes!

Amen.




+Fr. Gregory

Saint Michael Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil....

I pray this every day.
He is our guardian and is very special to me as he is my patron saint.

The gates of hell will not prevail.

God is in charge of everything. As Sister xxx (the Principal) used to say at my daughter's high school, "all things happen for a reason".

All the best regards,
Alice

Dear Alice,

Let us talk, first of all, about my personal feelings this moment. I feel both anger and desolation...desolation and anger not for the sacandals themselves...but for all this people who appear in television these days expressing their oponions about Church, people (clergy, lawyers, too many lawyers, journalists, politicians ) that use words as "Church", "nation" "national issues", people who talk a lot about Christodoulos and very little about Jesus Christ. On Saturday a priest said on TV that the work of a bishop was to announce everyday that "Christ is risen". A lawyer, friend of the Archbishop, answered that he prefered a bishop (an Archbishop) involved in national, social and political issues and I remembered the words of Saint Paul saying that if Jesus Christ is not risen from the dead them our faith is vain and we, Christian, are the most hapless people in this world and also the words of the Lord during the Last Supper about the Church, a Church "in the World" but which "does not belong to the World". When yesterday I saw the images on TV of Archbishop Christodoulos preaching in an Athens Church with all this fanatic people applauding and crying in the Church I felt also fear (How can you apploud at Church after listening to the Prodigal Son parabola?). Unfortunately the ecclesiastical crisis becomes a political issue with the extreme conservative elements of New Democracy party and the ultra nationalist party LAOS supporting the Archbishop whereas the New Democracy goverment does not want to be involved in the problem and is giving very little support to the Archbishop. Among the metropolitans, those belonging to the "Chrysopigi" brothership do suppor now Archbishop Christodoulos, whom a week ago was considered by the same metropolitans the cause of the whole problem. Communication tricks, open war between bishops and Churches (Greece Jerusalem), lawyers, politicians ....and very very litte place for the Head of the Church (our Lord Jesus Christ)and Gospel's values, for prayer and real conversion.
These are my personal feelings this moment.

May the Lord have mercy of all us and give us the grace of conversion...people fel these days the need to pray...althought many people consider that the All Night Vigil that is to be celebrated today in many parishes is just another communication trick

From Kathimerini (http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100006_28/02/2005_53492)

Christodoulos is defiant
Rebuffs ‘misguided’ opponents and warns of outside threats to the Church

The head of the Church of Greece yesterday gave his boldest indication yet that he has no intention of stepping down over the spate of scandals in which the institution has been caught up, while calling on worshippers to show their support in the face of outside threats.

«If those that are attacking me think I will resign or that I will stop talking, they are deeply misguided,» said Archbishop Christodoulos during a service at a church in the Athens suburb of Kallithea. Christodoulos was the subject of isolated opposition within the Church over the last 10 days, especially in the wake of allegations linking him to fugitive drug-smuggler Apostolos Vavilis and jailed Archimandrite Iakovos Yiossakis.

He also claimed that some people were annoyed by the fact that Greeks were the most religious people in Europe and that those interested in seeing globalization advance were responsible for the scandal-mongering the Greek Orthodox Church has been suffering for over a month. Christodoulos called on the faithful not to abandon the Church.

His comments were echoed by Irenaios, patriarch of Jerusalem. «These days the gates of hell have opened and the darkness of lies, defamation and war against the mother of churches has emerged,» he said yesterday. «Demons are circling the walls of the holy city and trying to crush those who support the Jerusalem patriarchate and the brotherhood of the Holy Land,» added Irenaios.

The patriarchate of Jerusalem said last Wednesday that Christodoulos had sent Vavilis there in 2001 to help with the election of Irenaios. The archbishop denied the charge and a tense atmosphere developed between him and Irenaios. However, on Saturday, the patriarchate said it would not be making any more public statements on the subject in the interests of «peace and unity.»

Anthimos, bishop of Thessaloniki, also called for the fascination with the Vavilis story to end. «It is shameful for Greeks that we are dragged behind Vavilis, making a mockery of ourselves,» he said while warning that the Church of Greece risked losing the Jerusalem patriarchate due to the ongoing dispute. Anthimos also declared his support for Christodoulos and called for a four-hour vigil to be held at the city's churches tonight, from 8.30 p.m., to help the Church overcome the current crisis.


(http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_100002_28/02/2005_53497)

Archbishop disclaims responsibility for crisis in a televised ‘confession’ to church faithful
Always at the center of developments, Christodoulos cannot avoid the limelight in the biggest scandal in the history of the Greek Church


The archbishop (left) with Bishop Theoklitos of Thessaliotis, one of the first victims of the crisis in the Church, which is seeking to repair its badly tarnished image. ‘The archbishop is not resigning; he is being annihilated by his enemies,’ said Christodoulos Friday night in reply to those suggesting ‘voluntary retirement.’
By Nikos Papachristos - Kathimerini

Over the past seven years, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece has frequently been in the spotlight, whether with fiery sermons, exhortations to the country’s youth, the battle to keep religious affiliation on identity cards, or proclamations that have been more of a political than a spiritual nature.

At the same time, he has tried to promote a role for the Church of Greece in the international arena, with a series of declarations on the war in Serbia, the future of the European Union and Turkey’s future in the EU.

Within the Church, he has clashed with old friends and made new alliances. A complex personality, Christodoulos has always sought to place himself at the center of developments, a place that it seems he will not be able to avoid now that the Church of Greece is being shaken by the biggest scandal in its history.

Fugitive drug-smuggler Apostolos Vavilis and Archimandrite Iakovos Yiossakis, the priest alleged to be at the center of a trial-fixing ring, the letters of recommendation and his own associates are drawing the archbishop into the whirlpool of revelations that have damaged the Church’s image both at home and abroad.

On May 9, 1998, the bells of Athens Cathedral pealed joyfully. State and government officials joined thousands of faithful to welcome the 19th prelate of the Autocephalous Church of Greece, who had already made his name as Bishop of Dimitriadis, presaging a brilliant career.

“The Church is facing a historic challenge. It has a duty to renew its mission with strength, so that it always has a say in the modern world,” said Christodoulos in his speech, which met with resounding applause as the new archbishop declared a “general mobilization of all the able, gifted and worthy.”

Christodoulos nevertheless did not omit mention of those whose actions had compromised the Church.

“To those few clerics who have neglected their duty, who have scandalized the flock and shamed their calling, I urge you to repent and to conform to the principles of the holy sacraments. There will no longer be any tolerance shown for behavior that is immoral or hypocritical,” he said at the time.

With just under seven years on the throne, the archbishop is faced with the mistakes and omissions of his own leadership. The revelations have cast a heavy shadow over the archbishopric and the word “resignation” is being voiced by both enemies and friends.

“The archbishop is not resigning; he is being annihilated by his enemies,” said Christodoulos Friday night in reply to those who were suggesting “voluntary retirement” as the solution.

“I considered, but immediately rejected, the possibility of resigning because I do not believe I am a part of the problem,” he said in an interview on Alpha television.

The “general mobilization of the able, gifted and worthy” officials has given way to the ousting of some of his closest associates, beginning with Bishop Theoklitos of Thessaliotis, Archimandrite Epiphanios Economou and the former director of his own office, Serapheim Koulousousas.

A struggle is being waged on the sidelines for alliances to secure Christodoulos’s own survival. According to sources, the archbishop’s confessor, Bishop Kallinikos of Piraeus, and Bishop Amvrosios of Kalavryta, in a confidential meeting with him 48 hours previously, had asked the archbishop for the resignation of Theoklitos in exchange for their public support of him.

“Salome had been more polite when asking for the head of John the Baptist,” commented a close associate of the archbishop, adding: “Unfortunately, some have to be sacrificed for the catharsis to become apparent.”

Another major problem facing Christodoulos was the way the situation was to be handled in public. When the first revelations began, neither he nor his associates realized — or they underestimated, as it turned out — the dimensions the crisis would assume.

They thought the problem could be resolved as usual by means of simple denials. However, the scale of developments, particularly with the Yiossakis and Vavilis affairs, forced his associates to realize that the threat to Christodoulos’s position was not fictitious. A rapid fall in his popularity ratings and the extremely difficult climate surrounding him set off the alarm bells.

The Church hierarchy’s vote of confidence and the steps towards reform announced by Christodoulos were not as effective as expected. After a number of meetings, sources say a decision was made to embark on an aggressive public relations campaign, focusing on “revealing those circles who provoked the crisis.”

At the same time, it was deemed necessary for the archbishop to make a “televised confession.” Early Thursday afternoon, his associates began leaking concerns that “the CIA, Mossad, politicians who were against the archbishop and perhaps even the Ecumenical Patriarchate, want him to step down.”

“I dare not make such a supposition,” replied the archbishop in his television interview, as to whether the Ecumenical Patriarchate had orchestrated the attacks against him. As to a plan by secret services, Christodoulos emphasized that “the Greek people are intelligent enough to evaluate everything being said in the press.”

In the same interview, he answered questions about his relationship with Vavilis, claiming that the last time they had met was in Jerusalem in 2001.

“I don’t remember seeing him again,” added Christodoulos. He said Vavilis had given the impression of having “abilities of detection.” Christodoulos reiterated his denial that he had sent Vavilis to Jerusalem

Referring to his meeting with judges in Yiossakis’s presence, Christodoulos emphasized that when he had seen him, he had been taken aback but out of politeness had not asked him to leave, as he claimed to be accompanying the judges.

Denials

The revelations of the past few days have given many bishops cause for concern. The Church is suddenly being regarded in the same way as any lay organization. At the same time, the patriarch of Jerusalem and the Athens archbishop are contradicting each other.

“I do not tell lies,” said the archbishop and once more apologized. An apology which recalled 1998: “He who is addressing you takes upon himself the responsibility for the sins of his generation against you and asks for your forgiveness. The times demand that the Church takes courageous decisions to bring about the necessary reform.”

The majority of the hierarchy and the flock as a whole are now awaiting those decisions.

From the Macedonian Press Agency (http://www.mpa.gr/article.html?doc_id=513445)

NEW ACCUSATIONS
Athens, 28 February 2005 (13:43 UTC+2)


Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece will have meetings with the Metropolites of Piraeus, Dimitriados, Kalavriton, Thevon, Nafpaktou, Thessalonikis and Spartis today in search of solutions that will take the Greek Orthodox Church out of the crisis.

Metropolite Theoklitos of Thessaliotida will tender his resignation to the Holy Synod tomorrow assuming the responsibility for the proposal he had made to the Archbishop to use Giosakis, while faithful from Karditsa are getting ready to hold a rally in his support outside the Petraki Monastery.

In an interview with the Athens daily “TA NEA”, Metropolite Theoklitos alleges that the ecclesiastical organization of Chrisopigi was at war with him for 20 years and certain clerics had even involved the state secret service in the effort to find incriminating evidence against him.

Meanwhile Metropolite Panteleimon of Attiki and Metropolite Dionisios of Chios are summoned to give explanations regarding the huge bank accounts they have in banks abroad.

Dear Francisco,

One thing we have to realize is that the Greek press and media is very irresponsible. It feels, like most Greeks, that the world really cares about what the Greeks think... rather than concerning themselves about what the world is going to think when they project certain images.

As for Christodoulos, he is charismatic and likable, but more important, he is sincere and reflects his beliefs and feelings. Now, having experienced differently in the Greek Church in this country, I have to give him credit for at least having integrity. But he is a Greek, and can't help but mix his feelings of patriotism with his Church. It is his identity.

What I mean is that Arch. Christodoulos at least, (right or wrong), is not being an opportunist, and swaying with the wind for his own benefit. Believe me, I have seen that. The Greeks are very volatile, so it is not easy to maintain a hierarchal position.

As for the political party, you must realize that the former party remained in power because it nationalized business' and gave out jobs freely. The people were dependant on the party, and this way they were assured of remaining in power indefinitely. They were only removed after many, many years, because of the great debt the nation was in and the problems with the Olympics.

Now I do think that there needs to be a separation of Church and State, but it's difficult when the priests and churches are paid and maintained by the government. A little evangelizing from others would help the people.

I do recall about 20 years ago when others came in, that people began attending Bible classes, etc. But like Russia, they do feel insulted when other denominations come in and assume that the Orthodox Church is pagan.

One must also remember, that the nation of Greece is under a continuous threat from Turkey. It has the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul, and pays dearly for it. In the meantime, the Turkish jets keep flying over Greek waters, and they leave only when chased by the Greek jets.

So the people there have some severe problems. They support the Patriarch totally, and have to financially support his position in order to keep him there, yet many can't help but feel a deep resentment towards Turkey.

There is no way that the Church in Greece can separate itself from politics. As an example, when the E.U. constitution was being written, Arch. Christodoulos was in Belgium lobbying with others to have Christianity mentioned as being the foundation of European civilization. The Patriarch became furious because it threatens his position. Turkey said that it will refuse to become a member of the E.U. if Christianity is mentioned.

The Turkish government has conducted ethnic cleansing so there are very few Orthodox there. It has not allowed many Orthodox clergy to have Turkish citizenship, so he will undoubtably be the last Patriarch living there.

In the meantime, the Turkish government will not allow the possessions of the Patriarchate to be taken out of the country.

Of course, considering all this, the Patriarch wants Turkey to join the E.U.,with the hope it will be forced to open itself up to other religions.

Zenovia

Dear Francisco,

I thank you dear brother for sharing your personal thoughts and opinions. I respect them and value them.

May our Lord bring the people of Greece, clergy and laity, closer to HIM through this scandal,

Me agape en Hristo,
Alice

From Kathimerini (http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100004_02/03/2005_53587)

Call to prayer as scandal balloons
Theoklitos implicates politicians in testimony, two more bishops and four judges in trouble
Top churchmen yesterday summoned the faithful to a nationwide, all-night prayer next week for the scandal-mired Church to overcome the ballooning crisis, as a bishop forced to resign for corruption implicated politicians in the alleged trial-fixing ring thought to have comprised clerics and judges.

Meanwhile, criminal charges for concealing assets were brought against three judges suspected of involvement in the ring, while a fourth member of the judiciary faced disciplinary action for allegedly refusing to repay a 2,000-euro loan to a New Democracy MP.

The Church of Greece’s ruling body, the Holy Synod, yesterday accepted the resignation announced on Friday by Theoklitos, Bishop of Thessaliotis, who is alleged to have maintained ties with the trial-fixing ring. Theoklitos is also accused of having been detained by police on suspicion of drug dealing in a dodgy bar, and of homosexuality — which the Church officially abhors.

The Synod also decided to summon two more bishops to provide explanations today regarding allegations of misconduct, and to dismiss an unmarried priest serving in the archbishopric after video tapes of a sexual content in which he allegedly appeared were made public. The priest was dismissed on the evidence of the tapes, although the Synod had previously refused to take similarly stringent action against Panteleimon, Bishop of Attica — who has been suspended for allegedly seeking to influence senior judges — after audio tapes surfaced in which he apparently had a lewd conversation with a male lover.

Dionysios, Bishop of Chios, will have to answer claims he had secretly banked some $17 million in US accounts, while Nikiforos, Bishop of Didymoteicho, is under scrutiny for alleged sex escapades.

Furthermore, the Synod invited the faithful to participate in a Monday vigil in the country’s main churches “to pray that the crisis is overcome.”

Theoklitos appeared before a Supreme Court judge yesterday to explain why he had falsely given an address in Piraeus as his residence during a court case in the past. Piraeus is believed to have been the center of the trial-fixing ring.

Sources close to Theoklitos said the bishop testified that he had come under pressure from politicians, churchmen and judges to seek the advancement — as chief Synod secretary — of Archimandrite Iakovos Yiossakis, the alleged eminence grise in the ring. This would ease the pressure on Archbishop Christodoulos, who has been criticized for allegedly favoring Yiossakis. According to the same sources, Theoklitos said Yiossakis had arranged holidays abroad for several judges.

Yesterday, Parliament approved, in principle, a bill against corruption in the judiciary.

From Macedonian Press Agency (http://www.mpa.gr/article.html?doc_id=513695)

RESPONSIBILITY AND CRISIS
Athens, 1 March 2005 (12:30 UTC+2)


Metropolite Theoklitos of Thessaliotida tendered his resignation to the Church of Greece Holy Synod today assuming responsibility for proposing to the Church to use Iakovos Giosakis, while he is also scheduled to testify to the prosecutor and state everything he knows about the activities of Giosakis.

The Metropolite of Piraeus reacted strongly to the allegations made by Theoklitos against the ecclesiastical organization “Chrisopigi”.

Meanwhile, Metropolite Panteleimon of Attiki and Metropolite Dionisios of Chios will give explanations for the huge personnel assets they allegedly have.

Metropolite Germanos blames for the crisis the Archbishop and suggested his replacement by Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania.

A climate of consensus was observed in the meeting the Archbishop had yesterday with 10 Metropolites.

According to an opinion poll conducted by the polling company Kappa Research, 55% of the people who responded to the questionnaire believe that the Archbishop has responsibility for the crisis.

Athens daily “Apogevmatini” published a letter by Iakovos Giosakis addressed to the Archbishop on the election of the Metropolite of Kythera.

From the Macedonian Press Agency (http://www.mpa.gr/article.html?doc_id=514007)

THE HOLY SYNOD MEETS TODAY
Athens, 2 March 2005 (14:00 UTC+2)


The Church of Greece Holy Synod meets again today under Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece in a heavy atmosphere and in the shadow of unending revelations.

Metropolite Dionisios of Chios will give explanations on the accusations that he has huge bank accounts in a US bank, while Metropolite Chrisostomos of Zakynthos will give explanations concerning the villa in the island of Patmos.

Also, Metropolite Nikiforos of Didimoticho will give explanations concerning sexual harassment accusations and Metropolite Chrisostomos of Peristerion will also appear before the Holy Synod accused of economic improprieties.

Meanwhile, the Holy Synod accepted yesterday the resignation of Metropolite Theoklitos of Thessaliotida, while Metropolite Germanos of Ilia insists in his call for the resignation of the Archbishop.

From the Macedonian Press Agency

ΣΥΝΑΣΠΙΣΜΟΣ: ΕΠΙΣΤΡΟΦΗ ΣΤΟ ΜΕΣΑΙΩΝΑ ΜΕ ΤΟ Ν/Σ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΙΚΗ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ ΠΟΥ ΠΡΟΩΘΕΙ Η ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΗ
Αθήνα, 4 Μαρτίου 2005 (18:53 UTC+2)


«Επιστροφή στο Μεσαίωνα» χαρακτηρίζει ο Συνασπισμός το νομοσχέδιο για την

εκκλησιαστική εκπαίδευση, που προωθεί η κυβέρνηση.

Συγκεκριμένα, το τμήμα Παιδείας του Συνασπισμού σε σχετική ανακοίνωσή του επισημαίνει τα εξής:

«Ενώ το τελευταίο διάστημα η Εκκλησία κλυδωνίζεται από αλλεπάλληλα σκάνδαλα, που αποκαλύπτουν μόνο μικρό μέρος της σήψης που έχει απλωθεί στους κόλπους της, συνιστά πρωτοφανή πρόκληση και εμπαιγμό προς την ελληνική κοινωνία η απόφαση της κυβέρνησης να προωθήσει νομοσχέδιο με το οποίο παραχωρεί αποφασιστικές αρμοδιότητες στην Εκκλησία σε θέματα Δευτεροβάθμιας και Τριτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης.

»Το επίμαχο νομοσχέδιο, μνημείο αντιδημοκρατικής νοοτροπίας και σκοταδισμού, ουσιαστικά παραδίδει μέρος της δημόσιας πανεπιστημιακής εκπαίδευσης στις ορέξεις του Αρχιεπισκόπου, μέσα από μια ιδιόμορφη διαδικασία ιδιωτικοποίησής της: Ο κρατικός προϋπολογισμός αναλαμβάνει να επιχορηγεί με 6 δισ. ευρώ τον χρόνο την άσκηση και πανεπιστημιακής εξουσίας από τη «Δεξιά του Υψίστου». Και όλα αυτά τη στιγμή που πανεπιστήμια κλείνουν γιατί δεν μπορούν να καλύψουν στοιχειώδεις οικονομικές ανάγκες τους.

»Καλούμε τους πνευματικούς ανθρώπους, τους κοινωνικούς φορείς, όλη την ελληνική κοινωνία σε εγρήγορση, ώστε να εμποδιστεί με κάθε τρόπο αυτός ο επικίνδυνος κατήφορος. Απαιτούμε να αποσυρθεί αμέσως αυτό το νομοσχέδιο και να προωθηθεί ο χωρισμός της Εκκλησίας από το Κράτος», καταλήγει η ανακοίνωση του Συνασπισμού.



ΔΙΕΥΚΡΙΝΙΣΕΙΣ ΥΠ.Ε.Π.Θ. ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΙΚΗ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ
Αθήνα, 4 Μαρτίου 2005 (18:34 UTC+2)


Με αφορμή δημοσιεύματα εφημερίδων, τα οποία αναφέρονται στην ύπαρξη ολοκληρωμένου Σχεδίου Νόμου για την εκκλησιαστική εκπαίδευση, από το γραφείο Τύπου του υπουργείου Παιδείας διευκρινίζονται τα εξής:

«Το εν λόγω νομοσχέδιο, παρελήφθη μαζί με άλλα, από την προηγούμενη διοίκηση του υπουργείου Παιδείας.

Η πολιτική ηγεσία εξετάζει τις διατυπωθείσες προτάσεις, τις οποίες επικαιροποιεί ή αντικαθιστά με άλλες σε συνεργασία με τους ενδιαφερόμενους φορείς της Εκκλησίας και της Εκπαίδευσης, προκειμένου μέσα από ένα γόνιμο διάλογο, να καταλήξει από κοινού στη σύνταξη Σχεδίου Νόμου το οποίο θα αναβαθμίζει ουσιαστικά την εκκλησιαστική εκπαίδευση στη χώρα μας.

Η ανωτέρω διαδικασία βρίσκεται σε εξέλιξη και είναι αυτονόητο ότι ουδεμία απόφαση έχει οριστικοποιηθεί.

Συνεπώς, κάθε άλλη συζήτηση για το θέμα αυτό, είναι πρόωρη, τουλάχιστον άσκοπη και σε κάθε περίπτωση, δεν συμβάλλει στον κοινό στόχο ο οποίος είναι η ποιοτική και ουσιαστική αναβάθμιση της εκκλησιαστικής εκπαίδευσης».

From Eleftherotypia (http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text?c=112&id=24183384)

ΤΙ ΚΡΥΒΕΙ το νομοσχέδιο για την ανωτατοποίηση των Εκκλησιαστικών Σχολών


Σχολές για ...Ταλιμπάν της Ορθοδοξίας


Του ΘΩΜΑ ΤΣΑΤΣΗ


Οι προθέσεις της κυβέρνησης της Νέας Δημοκρατίας στα αιτήματα του αρχιεπισκόπου Χριστόδουλου είναι γνωστές. Τα αντιμετωπίζει όλα θετικά. Γνωστές είναι και οι προσδοκίες του εκφραστή της «Δεξιάς του Υψίστου», που αμέσως μετά τις εκλογές τον Μάρτιο του 2004 αισθάνθηκε την ανάγκη να εκφραστεί. Ενα από τα θέματα που τον απασχολούσαν ιδιαίτερα τον κ. Χριστόδουλο ήταν το λεγόμενο «νομοσχέδιο για την εκκλησιαστική εκπαίδευση».


Η «Δεξιά του Υψίστου» ενωμένη. Ο πρωθυπουργός έτοιμος να ξεχρεώσει τον αρχιεπίσκοπο Χριστόδουλο. Πρώτο βήμα η ... αναγόρευσή του σε αρχιπρύτανη
Εκείνο που ευρέως έγινε γνωστό είναι ότι τον ενδιαφέρει η ανωτατοποίηση των Εκκλησιαστικών Σχολών, προκαλώντας τις αντιδράσεις των καθηγητών των Θεολογικών Σχολών που βλέπουν τις σχολές να περιθωριοποιούνται.

Το θέμα τελικά δεν είναι τόσο απλό. Το νομοσχέδιο, κάτω από συνθήκες μυστικότητας, τον Νοέμβριο του 2004, πήγε στη νομοπαρασκευαστική επιτροπή στη Βουλή. Στις 14 Δεκεμβρίου επεστράφη στο υπουργείο Παιδείας «για τα περαιτέρω».

Από την ανάγνωση του νομοσχεδίου προκύπτουν μια σειρά από ζητήματα. Το πρόβλημα δεν εντοπίζεται μόνο στον τρόπο με τον οποίο αποφασίζεται η ανωτατοποίηση των εκκλησιαστικών σχολών. Εστιάζεται κυρίως σε μια σειρά από άλλα θέματα. Οπως η μετατροπή των σχολών σε ιδρύματα που θα εκπαιδεύουν «ορθόδοξους ταλιμπάν», με την ενίσχυση της πολιτείας που θα πληρώνει την Εκκλησία για να ελέγχει μέσω των αρμόδιων συμβουλίων φοιτητές και καθηγητές των σχολών.

Για να φοιτήσει κάποιος σε μία από τις «Ανώτατες Εκκλησιαστικές Ακαδημίες» (ΑΕΑ), που τώρα λειτουργούν ως εκκλησιαστικές σχολές στην Αθήνα, τη Θεσσαλονίκη, τα Ιωάννινα και το Ηράκλειο Κρήτης, εκτός των άλλων θα πρέπει να έχει και «συστατική επιστολή» του μητροπολίτη της περιοχής από την οποία κατάγεται. Και αυτό είναι κάτι με το οποίο συμφωνεί το υπουργείο Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων.

Πώς θα εισάγονται

Ειδικότερα, η πρόσβαση στις ΑΕΑ προβλέπεται να γίνεται με το σύστημα εισαγωγής στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση, για κατόχους απολυτηρίου ενιαίου λυκείου ή άλλου αντίστοιχου σχολείου δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης. Με την προϋπόθεση ότι είναι χριστιανοί ορθόδοξοι, ενώ ειδικά για τα ιερατικά προγράμματα δεκτοί θα γίνονται μόνο άνδρες.

Πριν απ' όλα όμως υπάρχει ένα «πρόκριμα». Δηλαδή μια επιτροπή που συγκροτείται έπειτα από πρόταση του Ανώτατου Επιστημονικού Συμβουλίου (ελέγχεται από την Εκκλησία αφού τα τέσσερα από τα επτά μέλη του είναι κληρικοί, με τον αρχιεπίσκοπο πρόεδρο) και απόφαση του υπουργού Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων.

Το ενδιαφέρον είναι ότι αυτή η επιτροπή «συνεκτιμώντας τρεις σχετικές συστατικές επιστολές, εκ των οποίων μία του επισκόπου του τόπου κατοικίας του υποψηφίου, διαπιστώνει εάν υπάρχει έφεση του υποψήφιου και εάν συντρέχουν οι προϋποθέσεις για το ιερατικό λειτούργημα».

Στη συνέχεια φτιάχνεται κατάσταση αποτελεσμάτων που στέλνεται στο υπουργείο Παιδείας το οποίο συντάσσει τον κατάλογο με τους επιτυχόντες.

Σύμφωνα με το σχέδιο νόμου, ο κανονισμός λειτουργίας των ΑΕΑ εγκρίνεται ύστερα από συμφωνία του υπουργείου Παιδείας και του Ανώτατου Επιστημονικού Συμβουλίου (που ελέγχεται από την Εκκλησία).

Στο Ανώτατο Επιστημονικό Συμβούλιο πρόεδρος είναι ο αρχιεπίσκοπος Αθηνών και πάσης Ελλάδος και μέλη τρεις πανεπιστημιακοί καθηγητές και τρεις κληρικοί. Δύο από τη Διαρκή Ιερά Σύνοδο της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος και ένας από τη Σύνοδο της Εκκλησίας της Κρήτης.

Δηλαδή, το Συμβούλιο ελέγχεται από τους τέσσερις κληρικούς που υπερτερούν έναντι των τριών πανεπιστημιακών καθηγητών. Το ενδιαφέρον είναι ότι το Ανώτατο Επιστημονικό Συμβούλιο είναι αρμόδιο για μια σειρά από θέματα, όπως:

**«Ο καθορισμός κατευθύνσεων επιστημονικής έρευνας για γνωστικά αντικείμενα που ενδιαφέρουν την Εκκλησία της Ελλάδας».

**«Η διατύπωση θέσεων, απόψεων, εισηγήσεων, προτάσεων και η λήψη αποφάσεων».

Αν λάβουμε υπόψη τον προσανατολισμό που δίνει ο σημερινός αρχιεπίσκοπος ακόμη και στις διαμάχες που ξεσπούν μεταξύ Εκκλησιών, εύκολα θα διαπιστώσει ότι θα δώσει ώθηση στη θεωρία του περί του ρόλου της λεγόμενης «εθνικής εκκλησίας». Κάτι που φάνηκε κυρίως στη διαμάχη που ξέσπασε μεταξύ Αρχιεπισκοπής και Φαναρίου.

Σε ό,τι αφορά τα όργανα διοίκησης των Ακαδημιών: Σε κάθε Ακαδημία προβλέπεται ένας πρόεδρος του Ακαδημαϊκού Συμβουλίου, ο διευθυντής σπουδών και το Ακαδημαϊκό Συμβούλιο.

Το ενδιαφέρον είναι ότι ο πρόεδρος του Ακαδημαϊκού Συμβουλίου ορίζεται από το Ανώτατο Επιστημονικό Συμβούλιο, δηλαδή το Συμβούλιο που ελέγχεται από την Εκκλησία.

Ο διευθυντής σπουδών εκλέγεται από το Ακαδημαϊκό Συμβούλιο.

Αλλη μια ενδιαφέρουσα πτυχή του νομοσχεδίου είναι η παρέμβαση της Εκκλησίας μέσω ενός επταμελούς ειδικού συμβουλίου που συγκροτείται με απόφαση του υπουργού Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων.

Η σύνθεση του Συμβουλίου

Το Συμβούλιο απαρτίζεται από τέσσερα μέλη που προέρχονται από την Εκκλησία (ένας μητροπολίτης που προεδρεύει του Συμβουλίου, δύο ιερείς της Ιεράς Συνόδου και ένας κληρικός από την Εκκλησία της Κρήτης). Συμμετέχουν επίσης τρία μέλη που ορίζονται από τον υπουργό Παιδείας και προέρχονται από την ανώτατη εκπαίδευση.

Η επιλογή διευθυντών και υποδιευθυντών στις σχολικές μονάδες της δευτεροβάθμιας εκκλησιαστικής εκπαίδευσης γίνεται από επταμελές ειδικό συμβούλιο. Και για να είναι περισσότερο ήσυχος ο συντάκτης του νομοσχεδίου ότι η Εκκλησία θα έχει τον απόλυτο έλεγχο σημειώνει:

«Κατά την επιλογή προτιμώνται κληρικοί εκπαιδευτικοί του κλάδου ΠΕ1 Θεολόγων και εφ' όσον αυτοί δεν υπάρχουν ή δεν επαρκούν, λαϊκοί εκπαιδευτικοί του κλάδου των θεολόγων και εφ' όσον ούτε αυτοί υπάρχουν ή δεν επαρκούν, εκπαιδευτικοί από τους λοιπούς κλάδους».

Στο ίδιο νομοσχέδιο προβλέπεται και η λειτουργία των ενιαίων εκκλησιαστικών λυκείων. Και εδώ ισχυρά είναι τα επταμελή Ειδικά Συμβούλια (τέσσερις εκπρόσωποι της Εκκλησίας και τρεις πανεπιστημιακοί). Το ίδιο ισχύει φυσικά και για την επιλογή των διευθυντών και υποδιευθυντών στις σχολικές μονάδες της δευτεροβάθμιας εκκλησιαστικής εκπαίδευσης.

Ισχυρός είναι σε αυτή την περίπτωση ο ρόλος του Εποπτικού Συμβουλίου Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκκλησιαστικής Εκπαίδευσης. Είναι επταμελές και αποτελείται από δύο ιεράρχες, ένα μέλος της Συνοδικής Επιτροπής Εκκλησιαστικής Εκπαίδευσης και επιμόρφωσης εφημεριακού κλήρου, που ορίζεται από την Ιερά Σύνοδο, έναν σύμβουλο ή πάρεδρο του Παιδαγωγικού Ινστιτούτου ή σχολικό σύμβουλο δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης με ειδικότητα στον κλάδο Θεολογίας.

Με ανάλογο σχήμα λειτουργεί και το Υπηρεσιακό Συμβούλιο Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκκλησιαστικής Εκπαίδευσης στο υπουργείο Παιδείας.

Το σχέδιο νόμου προβλέπει και τη λειτουργία σχολής εκκλησιαστικής διακονίας. Θα λειτουργεί ως υπηρεσία της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος, με σκοπό την κατάρτιση και διά βίου επιμόρφωση στελεχών, κληρικών ή λαϊκών, της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος, πτυχιούχων Ανωτάτης Εκπαίδευσης.

Τέλος, ιδρύεται Ινστιτούτο Επαγγελματικής Κατάρτισης στο Αγιον Ορος.

Βόμβα Αρχιεπισκόπου στην Ανώτατη Εκπαίδευση


Του ΙΩΑΝΝΗ Σ. ΠΕΤΡΟΥ*


Τον τελευταίο καιρό πληροφορούμαστε για απίθανες περιπτώσεις διαπλοκής με εμπλοκή σε αυτές του εκκλησιαστικού παράγοντα. Δεν υπάρχει, όμως, όριο στις παράλογες επιδιώξεις ορισμένων εκκλησιαστικών κύκλων; Οπως θα γίνει κατανοητό από τη συνέχεια, φαίνεται ότι δεν υπάρχει. Αλλά αν δεν έχει διάθεση ο αρχιεπίσκοπος να περιοριστεί στα οικεία σε αυτόν έργα, πρέπει η κυβέρνηση να ενδίδει στις υπερφίαλες φιλοδοξίες του; Για λόγους ευθύνης απέναντι στον ελληνικό λαό πρέπει να θέσει κάποιο φραγμό στις παράλογες επιδιώξεις του.


Με άκρα μυστικότητα, αταίριαστη προς τη δημοκρατία, ετοιμάστηκε σχέδιο νόμου για τη δημιουργία ανώτατων εκκλησιαστικών ακαδημιών. Ισως θα μπορούσε να σ&

Dear Francisco, mon frere:

I think that perhaps that previous article might leave just about everyone here, but me and you, (and maybe Father Anthony) scratching their heads!

You know there is a saying 'it's all Greek to me!' :p

If it is only for me, I earnestly thank you, but perhaps in that case, it would be better to 'pm' any Greek articles to me instead of taking up so much of the forum space.

In Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice,

If I am not wrong our friend Zenobia also speaks Greek. Why do I post these news in Greek? Just because I prefer to invoke an article rather than writing my own thoughts. What is all this issue about? As you probably know private universities are forbidden by Greek Constitution. The Greek Education and Religious Affairs Ministry is giving the Greek Orthodox Church the privilege of founding the first "private" university (the Supperior Ecclesiastical Schools will now considerated Universiry Schools). "Private" because the Archbishop of Athens will be its first and vitalicious rector and becouse the students will be only admitted with a presentation letter of their Orthodox Metropolitan, and not after the general process of admition to Greek Universities. "Private" because the Church of Greece will select the proffesors but public because the "Church of Greece" is part of the State (nomiko prosopo dimosiou dikaiou) and because the State will pay for that University. A non universal university where non Orthodox Greek citizens will not be admitted (the cases of Catholic Greek students that were not admitted at the Theological Schools of Athens or Thessaloniki Universities after succeedding at the admition process are well known)but that will be paid by them.

Dear Francisco,

I am sorry. That is bad news, indeed.

With love in Christ,
Alice