Christ Says to the Greeks, “Behold: Your House is Forsaken”

Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye has provided an uncompromising and courageous statement regarding the Greek Church's document recommending recognition of the schismatic group in Ukraine. Translation provided by Fr. Zechariah Lynch. 

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My dear readers, Christ is in our midst!

Christ says to the Greeks, “behold your house is forsaken.”

I stand with trepidation before the awesome truthfulness of prophecy in Gospel history, of which we are witnesses. The events leading to the coming of the Antichrist are the mirror opposite of the earthly events in the life of our Savior.

The Jews, who were the chosen race of God, and who were faithful to the Law and the Prophets, and to whom it was given to first know the coming of Christ to the world, became those who fight against God, slaves of the devil, and crucified the Messiah. The Pharisees and Scribes, who scrupulously studied the Holy Scriptures and who philosophized over the meaning of the Lord's teaching, were the very ones who crucified the Savior of the world.

The Gentile Greeks of the Hellenic world were the first to receive the seed of faith and thereby became the new chosen people who took the place of the Jewish people who had betrayed God. And here again, as it was then, “at the end of time” these people are – in a mirror-like fashion – repeating the history of their predecessors. Only this time they could not recognize the spirit of antichrist; yet again such “hypocrites” could not discern “the signs of the times” (Matt. 16:3).

The Jewish Sanhedrin condemned Christ to death for one simple and banal reason – so as to not lose the comforts of life. “It is better for one man to die” (Jn. 18:12). The Greek Bishops are doing the same thing. It is better for the Body of Christ, the Church, to suffer than we lose our European wages, comforts, and good relations with those pockets from which we receive our wages. This way is simple.

Like Pilate, you have washed your hands and yet your hearts have become defiled. Our Churches are being seized, our faithful are beaten, and our land is covered in blood. And this is “only the beginning of the birth pains” (Matt. 24:8). They will kill us for Christ, with your help, while you are philosophizing and theologizing about God in your comfortable halls.

Long ago the Lord warned us of the leaven of your hypocrisy (cf. Matt. 16:6), and yet again we have become witnesses to the truth of His words. You did not feel the taste of Judas in the kiss of Dimitry Archondonis [translator's note: this was the name of Patriarch Bartholomew before his ordination]. Having agreed to “A,” you now have to confirm “B,” and will continue the journey down the prearranged plan which is created by the rulers of the New World Order.

After this, you will kiss the slippers of the Pope of Rome and then you will kiss the slippers of the Antichrist himself!

This is your choice this day. “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape being sentenced to hell” (Matt. 23:33)? “Behold, your house is forsaken” (Lk. 13:35). As you will remember, betrayal did not save the Jews. A little time passed and the judgment of God came swiftly.

God has but two words – Yes and No. The slick, streamlined, and veiled betrayal defined by your Sanhedrin will not save you. God hears you, and you have said no to the Truth. You consciously went against the Truth: this is the blasphemy against the Spirit which will never be forgiven you (Matt. 12:32).

Yet we continuously give thanks to God that He has chosen us as a sacrifice for the Truth. Most likely, this is because of the prayers of the Mother of God. Throughout the whole world, only our holy land has three Lavras dedicated to Her. For us, to suffer for Christ is the greatest honor. Thank God for this great gift – not only to believe in Him but to suffer for Him (cf. Phil. 1:29).

I would like to say of you to God, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” But I cannot, for then I would be like you in your hypocrisy. I know this for sure – you see clearly and have nevertheless carried out your actions.

Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye 

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This letter was translated from the original Russian by Fr. Zechariah Lynch.

Fr. Zechariah is an Orthodox priest in Pueblo, Colorado, at the Archangel Michael Orthodox Church. He blogs at The Inkless Pen, and is a regular contributor at Russian Faith.