Metropolitan Kirykos on the Matthewite Archives

Hat Tip: P.B. The following is Metropolitan Kirykos’ response to the question of the archives and claims of Stavros Markou. In advance of a protracted debate on this already controversial topic, we are shutting off commenting on this story. Please be advised of the commenting rules, and feel free to comment on the forum, where the story was originally posted, bearing in mind those rules.

GENUINE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF GREECE
HOLY METROPOLIS OF MESOGAIA AND LAVREOTIKI
BISHOPRIC OF ST CATHERINE KOROPI ATTIKI
P.O BOX 54 KOROPI ATTIKI Tel: 210 6020176 TEL-FAX: 210 6021467

PROTOCOL NO. 540 APRIL 2010 (O.C)

To my beloved brothers in Christ abroad,

As you have informed me (you being conversant with the English language) that Stavros [Markou– ed.] threatens that he will publish the Archives which he took from our offices, in bad faith, when we hosted him at our Metropolis, which according to the Fathers is worse than treachery, as it may be characterized, and is punishable by the Ecclesiastical and the Criminal laws of the State. As you specifically write to me that “with jactation he utters that he will ridicule us internationally”.

My beloved, if I knew that the threat was only Stavros’s, and that this new movement of betrayal was not directed from the known ecumenist centre’s, I would have disregarded the threats as completely foolish and would have ignored the matter. Because the so called “Archives” are nothing more than historical documents of the Struggle, which he received (scanned), because he asked for them, so that he can, in consultation with Father Andrew, and always with my own blessing, post them on a website, so, as he himself used to say “so such a valuable historical archive of the Struggle of the Genuine Orthodox Church is not lost and so that the whole world could know that God is with us, namely, that we possess the treasure of the Confession [of faith] and Apostolic Succession”.

But because I am certain that this is a very, very well directed plan against the Church, to which Stavros has fallen victim to, “I say and protest” to all those lead astray and unfortunately those who seceded from the Church, (I hope they return) and also to those who were unsettled a little, that even if Stavros falsifies, cuts, or distorts the meaning of the documents, in order to deceive, and incurs according to the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Synodicon of Orthodoxy) the “thrice anathema” of the Church, he shall achieve absolutely nothing. The only thing he will be successful in, is that he will reveal (he will bring to surface) the wider treacherous movement, which to his knowledge or to his ignorance, he undertook to serve; he shall prove himself as a “worthy imitator” of the betrayer Judas. I hope he repents, but not “depart definitively”.

Hereby according to the command of the Apostle “Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock”, I am addressing all of the Orthodox, but mostly to those lead astray, and along with St Ignatius the God-bearer I repeat: “Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive those that are running towards God;……….Keep yourselves from those evil plants which Jesus Christ does not tend…… For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop” (i.e. the Genuine Orthodox Bishop) And as many as shall, in the exercise of repentance, return into the unity of the Church, (the true Church) these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ. Do not err, my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God”.

In regards to the “Archives”, which he threatens that he will publish, many simpletons in the faith, not perceiving the betrayal, say that they are awaiting the publication of the “Archives”, so they can see where the truth is. We reiterate again the same saints teaching: “Keep yourselves from those evil plants….. And I exhort you to do nothing out of strife, but according to the doctrine of Christ. (to learn what the will of Christ is) When I heard some saying, If I do not find it in the ancient Scriptures, I will not believe the Gospel; on my saying to them, It is written, they answered me, That remains to be proved. But to me Jesus Christ is in the place of all that is ancient: His cross, and death, and resurrection, and the faith which is by Him* by which I desire, through your prayers, to be justified”. (St Ignatius the God-Bearer. Epistle to the Philadelphians – Chapter 8

To put it briefly, the so called “archives” which Stavros threatens that he will publish, which, according to his expression, and as you told us, that “He will ridicule us internationally” will not be the “untouched archives” that St Ignatius the God-bearer speaks of, but the counterfeits of his own [Stavros’s] invention and imagination, or rather, the illegitimate concoctions of the evil one. The “untouched archives” are found inside our hearts; they are our faith, our good Confession [of faith], our Apostolic Succession, those which nobody can “steal” except if we voluntarily deliver them.
In all of this, be strong in the Lord and be strengthened in the Orthodox faith and Confession [of faith].

The least of intercessors unto the Resurrected Lord

CHRIST IS RISEN – TRULY HE IS RISEN

+MESOGAIAS AND LAVREOTIKIS
  KYRIKOS

P.S I ask of you, as being conversant with the English language, to translate this in to English and to publish where appropriate, and if possible to those websites where Stavros published his threatening letters.