May-June 2018 ‘And the disciples were first called THE NARTHEX Christians in Antioch’ (Acts 11:26) The Orthodox Church of St Dunstan of Canterbury, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 9JG The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland. Archbishop: Metropolitan Silouan The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. Patriarch: His Beatitude, John X Parish Priest: Fr. Chrysostom Tel. 01202-602628 e-mail: [email protected] Deacon: Fr Dc Filip Tel. 01308-868543 e-mail: [email protected] Deacon: Fr Dc Alexander Tel. 07765417610 e-mail: [email protected] Subdeacon David Tel. 01209-217499 Parish web site: www.saint-dunstan.org Archdiocesan web site: www.antiochian-orthodox.co.uk clergy who paid a visit to religious leaders in These verses call to mind the Syria to express their condemnation of what story of the Tower of Babel in the book of Babel our government did. Genesis, contrasting the confusion of There are an awful lot of opinions It is true that, with hindsight, even tongues with the unity brought about by being expressed. It was, no doubt, ever thus. The the most benign governments can make the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the difference today, thanks to the ever-available mistakes or become guilt y of a blind hypocrisy. Church at Pentecost. It reminds us that, public media, is that anyone can now go public Why, for example, did they strike at Syria with having received the anointing of and tell the world what he or she thinks. For a missiles for the use of chemical weapons but Chrismation after our baptism, we each variety of reason s the general public seems to not at Russia? (The answer is, of course, have the grace of the Holy Spirit abiding have lost confidence in (or at least, become tactically obvious!) What we have received in within us, in proportion to our conformity dismissive of) the considered views of experts, return from the governments of Syria and to Christ; we are sealed with the scientists, commentators and pundits of all kinds. Russia are the expected denials of any knowledge of God within. In the past, largely restricted to TV, radio, books skulduggery or infringement of the rules of We have an inner relationship and the Press, differing ideas and opinions from war, employing explanations that range from to Christ, the Word of God and thus a learned authorities would be expressed and in the contrived to the ridiculous (but that’s only communion with the three divine persons due course they would be dissected and my opinion). of the Holy Trinity. Therefore, as criticised, by other, opposing, learned No doubt there is much to criticise Orthodox Christians we are of one mind authorities. The general public, apart from those in the use of this mordern form of ‘gunboat in matters of dogma and the whole inclined to write indignant letters to the BBC or diplomacy’ and I can understand the economy of salvation and have no place the newspapers, were not really consulted for protestations of our own Patriarch at more for chosen opinions, private their reactions, except through such means as the explosives wrecking his homeland – in exactly interpretations or personal confessions of occasional opinion poll or general election. The the same way as the good citizens of Salisbury the Faith. We do not depend on a body Internet has changed all that. must object to the polluting of their own that exercises a teaching authority or Yes, technology really does change streets. Magisterium, like the Mediaeval Papacy, things. At the Reformation in Western Europe it What I find interesting is the set above the rulers and peoples of was largely the printing press that enabled every swordplay between the various experts, Western Europe. Neither do we recognise man to become his own pope. Having kept the politicians, security services, retired military that any sense can emerge from giving liturgy and the biblical text in Latin, the types and, indeed, every blogger in the credence to a multitude of ‘reformed’ scholastic thinkers of the Roman Church knew business. The question that I ask myself of theological opinions. Our unity is exactly what might happen if the Bible were anyone who has voiced an opinion outside the established in the anointing of the Holy unleashed. It has been the wisdom of the confines of the Cabinet Office and its security Spirit and is established through the Orthodox Church always to have the liturgy and advisers, the Kremlin and the Syrian apostolic tradition, the Liturgy, Holy biblical texts read in the language of the local government, is: how can they possibly know? Scriptures, Creed, Canons, Sacred Ministry people or, at least, in some classical form of that I think it highly likely that the and the writings of the fathers. language. Protestantism, however, given its Kremlin was behind the poisoning of the In our view of the world outside individualism and independence, has given rise Skripals; I think it most probable that Mr the Church we might well debate and to more than 30,000 different denominations, Assad‘s regime was guilty of using chemical express opinions; we may well agree to each with its own opinion about salvation. weapons but I don’t know; how could I? The differ when it comes to our own ideas With free access now to the Internet rush to opinion and especially to express it about politics, justice, social cohesion and anyone, using a variety of social media, can publically, reminds me of what Evagrius of the other great issues of our day. Wisdom, express their thinking on public platforms and Pontus (346-399) wrote that, ‘In every man however, directs that judgements are often claim legitimacy for their own ideas and self-opinion destroys self-knowledge.’ In other best if allowed to develop slowly with the opinions. On all matters social, moral, political, words, the rush to opine on such matters tells gathering in of the facts. Immediate philosophical and even scientific, everyone us more about how someone wishes to reactions to events are often proved might now be heard. In other words, a form of position himself and how he wants to be seen wrong in hindsight and even the academic ‘political Protestantism’ currently prevails, so publically, rather than enlightening us with considerations of historians, even after that, alongside TV, radio, books and the Press, facts about the particular situation. The current long reflection and analysis, still tend to Facebook and Twitter provide another section in debate around how best to pursue the course betray the particular standpoint of the the great towering edifice of conjecture and of Brexit is another interesting case in point, historian. It might well be wise to keep supposition that looms over us. seeing how often people appear to clothe silence beneath the present media tower This has been brought to my mind themselves in the colours of a particular tribe, of Babel. Christ was once asked his recently by two events: the reckless use of a their arguments and opinions either serving a opinion about a woman caught in nerve agent in the attempted assassination of the hidden agenda or based on selected ‘facts’ adultery (Jn.8:1-11): His reaction is Skripals in Salisbury and the alleged use of from an unverifiable source. It seems that you interesting. chemical weapons in Douma, Syria. may not only choose your opinions, you can As Orthodox Christians, we The question laid before the bench of even choose the facts to support your selected know well the answer to Pilate’s question public opinion was whether the resulting actions standpoint. ‘What is truth?’ (Jn.18:38). The Truth (diplomatic expulsions and missile attacks) taken On 27th May we shall celebrate the stands before the Roman governor but at by our government were justified. There has, of feast of Pentecost. At Vespers on the eve we the time, he is more concerned about the course, been a rich feast of opinion, from the shall sing, ‘Of old there was confusion of opinions of a hostile crowd. In a world of voices of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition to tongues because of the boldness of the tower governmental propaganda, fake news, individuals taking their own moral grandstand builders. But those tongues have not uttered manipulation, moral grandstanding and and signalling their popular virtue. There was wisdom for the glory of divine knowledge... opinions, God knows who is right. even the bizarre spectacle of a group of now the unison of tongues has been renewed Fr Chrysostom establishment clergymen and peers of the realm for the salvation of our souls.’ [Doxastikon of the Aposticha for Pentecost] Holy Communion to the communion fast gradually, as practical. SERVICES However, there is one matter which Previously published on our Facebook page Vespers is normally served on One of the duties given to a priest at his must be condemned as very dubious practice, not Saturdays at 5.00pm and on ordination is to become the guardian of the only with our children but sometimes among adults. That is the way that some bring their little Wednesdays at 6.00pm. Fr. Chrysostom chalice. According to the rules governing our own Antiochian Patriarchate, in administering ones to the chalice, having arrived in church a few is available for Confession afterwards. the Holy Gifts at communion, the priest should minutes before communion. Some have even Orthros is served before the Divine be assured (as far as possible) that the person asked for communion for their children after the Liturgy on Sundays at 9.00am receiving holy communion is either: a) An service has ended.