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**acceraStoof** · 10-30-2007, 02:59 AM

I know a monk in Greece who did not even accept to become a priest, or a deacon! They wanted to make him a bishop and he "run away" to another place. In that other place the evil one fought him so much. Threatening him physically through some people, and even brought great shame to him because of false slander. I know some cases in Greece similar to this one... Hearts ache when we see and hear such things. Especially when the person involved is saintly, but I am sure most do not even know them. We do not hear about such good examples often. We hear about many negative cases in the media because that is what is profitable and often poor journalism generates even more money. People are quick to buy tabloids for stars, but even quicker for the clergy. There is an intoxicating, relaxing effect for our consciences when we hear tabloid-news for the clergy.

Wonderful people like Effie are hurt and saddened by such news, whereas people who do not even believe in God make money by promoting such things. Dear Effie, I know it is difficult, but try not to believe everything media serves there to people (like everywhere). I know that it would be so much more fruitful to hear about people such as Saint Chrysostom who run away when they were asked to take a throne, but these saintly people are not scarce and do exist even in our times and often they are hidden like gems and only next generations might hear about them because they do not wish to be known to the world. You know how much they slandered Saint Nektarios and who he really is. Take all the news with a grain of salt and know that often such journalistic-gossip is cheap-malignant-gossip not different from evil-gossip in our daily life. It is exactly the same just that we are paying money to access it. I am not saying that all clergy are saints, but often media there super-inflates and generalizes different phenomena. We know that the source of all these is the evil one.

You made my heart leap with joy the other day when you expressed your wish for your son to become a monk. I am sure you have seen the super inflated by the media "tragedies" on Greek TV, when families do not consent with their children following a monastic path. It is heart-breaking that such media is allowed to be broadcast and distort realities and brainwash many.

I know dear Effie that you have a caring heart and love Church and love God, so do not allow such news to disturb your peace. I say these with very sincere love (like always) because I was just through a similar experience some days ago as you can see in another thread. And I learned that this sensitivity can cause harm.

Ah Nina. Gerontissa Gabriela said the same thing you do. "- Have faith. -There are people who like to make fun of the church. - They will make up scandalous stories to embarrass the Church. " Unfortunately, we frequently experience at first hand things we would rather not experience at all.

Nina, as you have seen in several threads where I have commented on priests, anything negative is hard for me to accept. I know that this has been a problem for me for years. I cannot stand hypocrisy and people who are double faced. But this attitude doesn't say much for me, does it?
Who am I to criticize? Only God can see into the heart of a person and only He can judge. I so want our priests to be holy people, men our children can look up to, admire, and even copy. I try to emulate the holy people whose books I read. They neither criticize nor judge, they accept. This fault of mine is something I have endlessly discussed with my spiritual father and my husband. They both say that it is not something I should concern myself with and that each of us will answer to God individually. The danger here, of course, is that our faith might be compromised. My husband is able to separate his faith completely from his occasional irritation and dismay at these so-called professional priests. Did you know that they are public servants here, and are paid by the government?

Nina, people here don't believe in keeping their feelings to themselves, and I have seen them express their anger when priests have acted in an inappropriate manner. Perhaps this attitude has to do with the fact that they are so completely comfortable with their religion.

Nina, each time your words make me see the proper path that each christian should follow. Thank you.

Effie

10-30-2007, 02:59 AM	#12
acceraStoof Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 516 Senior Member	I know a monk in Greece who did not even accept to become a priest, or a deacon! They wanted to make him a bishop and he "run away" to another place. In that other place the evil one fought him so much. Threatening him physically through some people, and even brought great shame to him because of false slander. I know some cases in Greece similar to this one... Hearts ache when we see and hear such things. Especially when the person involved is saintly, but I am sure most do not even know them. We do not hear about such good examples often. We hear about many negative cases in the media because that is what is profitable and often poor journalism generates even more money. People are quick to buy tabloids for stars, but even quicker for the clergy. There is an intoxicating, relaxing effect for our consciences when we hear tabloid-news for the clergy. Wonderful people like Effie are hurt and saddened by such news, whereas people who do not even believe in God make money by promoting such things. Dear Effie, I know it is difficult, but try not to believe everything media serves there to people (like everywhere). I know that it would be so much more fruitful to hear about people such as Saint Chrysostom who run away when they were asked to take a throne, but these saintly people are not scarce and do exist even in our times and often they are hidden like gems and only next generations might hear about them because they do not wish to be known to the world. You know how much they slandered Saint Nektarios and who he really is. Take all the news with a grain of salt and know that often such journalistic-gossip is cheap-malignant-gossip not different from evil-gossip in our daily life. It is exactly the same just that we are paying money to access it. I am not saying that all clergy are saints, but often media there super-inflates and generalizes different phenomena. We know that the source of all these is the evil one. You made my heart leap with joy the other day when you expressed your wish for your son to become a monk. I am sure you have seen the super inflated by the media "tragedies" on Greek TV, when families do not consent with their children following a monastic path. It is heart-breaking that such media is allowed to be broadcast and distort realities and brainwash many. I know dear Effie that you have a caring heart and love Church and love God, so do not allow such news to disturb your peace. I say these with very sincere love (like always) because I was just through a similar experience some days ago as you can see in another thread. And I learned that this sensitivity can cause harm. Ah Nina. Gerontissa Gabriela said the same thing you do. "- Have faith. -There are people who like to make fun of the church. - They will make up scandalous stories to embarrass the Church. " Unfortunately, we frequently experience at first hand things we would rather not experience at all. Nina, as you have seen in several threads where I have commented on priests, anything negative is hard for me to accept. I know that this has been a problem for me for years. I cannot stand hypocrisy and people who are double faced. But this attitude doesn't say much for me, does it? Who am I to criticize? Only God can see into the heart of a person and only He can judge. I so want our priests to be holy people, men our children can look up to, admire, and even copy. I try to emulate the holy people whose books I read. They neither criticize nor judge, they accept. This fault of mine is something I have endlessly discussed with my spiritual father and my husband. They both say that it is not something I should concern myself with and that each of us will answer to God individually. The danger here, of course, is that our faith might be compromised. My husband is able to separate his faith completely from his occasional irritation and dismay at these so-called professional priests. Did you know that they are public servants here, and are paid by the government? Nina, people here don't believe in keeping their feelings to themselves, and I have seen them express their anger when priests have acted in an inappropriate manner. Perhaps this attitude has to do with the fact that they are so completely comfortable with their religion. Nina, each time your words make me see the proper path that each christian should follow. Thank you. Effie
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