Phanar theologian blasts Greek Church for rejecting same-sex marriage law

Speech by Chryssavgis at the Crete Council. Photo: wheeljournal

The advisor to the Patriarch and theologian of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archdeacon John Chryssavgis, criticized the protests of the Greek Orthodox Church against the law on LGBT marriages adopted by the Greek parliament. His article was published on the website of the Fordham University Center for Orthodox Christian Studies, Public Orthodoxy.

Commenting on the decision of the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church against the law on gay marriage, as well as the protests of individual clergy, Chryssavgis stated that "Orthodox hierarchs and circles feel the need to express disproportionate fervor and excessive alarm on the current debate around the same-sex marriage bill that just passed in the Greek parliament."

In his opinion, "Morality is one thing (perhaps open to the moralism of the Church), but legality is another (with far less room for criticism, even by the Church)." Chryssavgis noted that it is precisely the state that has granted the Church "the right to cling to conservative and—in its opinion—unequivocal rules or inviolable regulations."

The theologian of the Phanar is confident that what unites the sphere of faith and legislation is that they are still evolving.

"...> just as the domain of faith or spirituality presupposes an ongoing process, so too democracy or modernity is a work in progress. Neither is static or exclusive; both aspire to and strive for maturity and integrity. Moreover, neither is resolved by protest or populism; on the contrary, both require engagement and interaction," Chryssavgis believes.

He is convinced that statements like "One cannot be gay and a member of the church (or, for that matter, a Christian!)" are unacceptable, hence the communiqué by 40 abbots of Mt. Athos against the law on LGBT marriages "is if nothing else anachronistic and hypocritical".

"It is regrettable that the Church appears 'primitive' on matters pertaining to science and law (including such issues as civil marriages and digital identities)—namely, with regard to everything that has emerged in recent decades, even centuries—yet 'pioneering' in the dissemination of conspiracy theories. And although we are in the 21st century, some hierarchs still insist on identifying homosexuality with pathological symptoms that require psychotherapy or conversion!" the theologian of the Phanar comments with outrage.

He noted that with the "militant support" of Mount Athos, "Just one year after backing itself into a corner on the question of baptizing children of gay couples, the Church of Greece is now even reconsidering infant baptism."

For Chryssavgis, it is "paradoxical and pitiful" that "when compared to their religious or spiritual counterparts, some lay and nonreligious people ultimately reveal greater understanding for and solidarity" with sodomites, who, in his opinion, "are disproportionately spurned and marginalized".

"The world may not listen to the outdated monologue of the Church," concluded the theologian of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, it is time to talk about sex and gender in the Church.

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