Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, who presides over some seventy Greek Orthodox parishes throughout Canada issued a personal Christmas message to the faithful, encouraging them to stand tall and defending the Church from attacks and the “hatefulness of some.”
The message, published on the Metropolis website, was targeting news that broke of a lawsuit by the Greek Community of Toronto which alleged, amongst other things, financial mismanagement and a host of other improprieties.
The Metropolis has denied all accusations and insists its record is clean, but acknowledged that the “mudslinging” has hurt the institution and the Metropolitan, himself.
The complete message from Metropolitan Sotirios follows below:
To the faithful people of our Holy Metropolis across Canada,
Christmas is upon us. We will soon celebrate the Nativity of Christ. Let us think about our Lord, Who is the Light of the World, and recall His teachings.
Christ said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
In recent days, we have heard about the lies and malicious accusations targeted against Greek people across Canada, the Church, your Metropolitan, and many of our Reverend Fathers.
I know that as proud Greek Orthodox faithful, this has hurt you, because it has hurt me too.
Greeks have much to be proud of; as a Church and a community we have made significant contributions to Canada. We should not despair or be ashamed because a handful of individuals purposely disseminate discriminatory information that is injurious to the reputation of Greek-Canadians and the Church.
They will not prevail. They will never prevail. The truth will prevail. Christ will prevail.
As Greek Orthodox faithful, we are called to love one another. Christ said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you” (Luke 6:27-28), because “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32).
Our Metropolis has always focused on and promoted the importance of love and unity, and together with the trust and support of the faithful, the Metropolis has been able to accomplish great things.
Our Metropolis is a trustworthy organization: it says what it does and does what it says. This is one of the reasons the Metropolis continues to receive large donations year after year (although the accusations have unfortunately made some of our donors sceptical): because it produces results; because it proudly promotes Hellenism and our pure Orthodox faith; because the words and actions of our Metropolis are prudent.
We do not rush to throw mud and denigrate our fellow man; instead, we strive to fulfill the commandments of Christ, to love one another, even our enemies.
Beloved brothers and sisters, the accusations against our Metropolis, your Metropolitan, and some of our Reverend Fathers are fabricated and false. Canada’s justice system will unequivocally vindicate us, because the truth is on our side.
Let us stand straight. Let us stand proud. The Greek Orthodox faithful in Canada have nothing to be ashamed of. Let us not be taken down by the hatefulness of some. Let us love one another and let us celebrate the Nativity of Christ in unity, glorifying our Lord.
With fatherly love and blessings in the Newborn Christ,
Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios
*****
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3 comments
IF SOME INDIVIDUALS FROM THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH DO NOT PRACTICE ACCORDING TO THE CANADIAN LAW OR THE CHURCH RULES (THE CANADIAN JUSTICE WILL DECIDE), IT DOES NOT OFFEND MY GREEK NATIONALITY NOR MY RELIGION.
IN ADDITION, THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH DOES NOT DEFINE MY ETHNICITY AS A GREEK-CANADIAN WHETHER I LIVE IN CANADA, GREECE OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
WAKE UP!
I am a 56 year old successful professional and I have volunteered for over 35 years in all parts of the Toronto Greek Community (both secular and Orthodox organizations). Almost all of the authors of this G.C.M.T. lawsuit are (in my personal experience) self-professed atheists, communists or Evangelical Christians. Since I know all of the priests who have been unfairly attacked by these horrible people (whom I know very personally as well for decades), I am saddened that the names of truly exceptional church leaders are hurt by these vicious anti-Orthodox Greeks. God give wisdom and humility to those whose attacks are so vicious. By the way, whereas in the past hundreds would attend G.C. of M.T. meetings, the anti-Orthodox Greek Community of Metropolitan Toronto now (sadly) attract only a few dozens of members to their meetings; the G.C.of M.T. has failed in every project over the past 15-20 years. The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) has many successful projects (e.g. the Greek Orthodox School Metamorphosis) has a very long waiting list. I leave this comment with a “Kaliteri Chronic!”
The BS you are trying to feed us is bigger than the moon