The following editorial was submitted by Stavros and Nikolaos Piperis, two brothers who live in Omaha, Nebraska, in response to an editorial we published on January 2 from prominent church leader and philanthropist Mr. Nick Karakas. The opinions expressed may not necessarily belong to The Pappas Post.
Mr. Nick Karakas, a philanthropist and prominent member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, has offered a set of proposals to help our church succeed in the future.
We also want the Church to succeed, but we do not believe his proposals will help.
Mr. Karakas proposes that bishops be required to resign at 75 years old to make way for younger clergy who, with their “social and technical savvy,” will be more capable of leading a diocese. While we need engaging leaders, we disagree that the elderly should be excluded. Archbishops Athenagoras and Iakovos served into their mid-80s, a decade longer than this rule would allow. Should they, on their 75th birthdays, have been forced to resign? Don’t some spiritual gifts, like wisdom, ripen with age?
“It is time to bring Christ back to the present age and center of Orthodoxy in our sermons,” Mr. Karakas writes. “Let us acknowledge that Christ is here today… This even as we revere our early church fathers, saints, apostles and faithful forbearers.”
He seems to suggest that our reverence for our church fathers, saints and apostles may be distracting us from Christ. But we are revering them because it is they who help us acknowledge Him. At the end of each liturgy, we ask the saints to intercede for us, not move aside.
Mr. Karakas proposes revision of church school teaching methods, in part because our faithful, he claims, are “generally skimpy on Bible passages.” But he should remember that our church fathers blended Bible passages with music and iconography for us to understand their meaning through art.
“Icons teach their beholders with a silent voice” and “through the beauty of music, we unawares receive the meaning of the words.”
The Complete Works of St. Basil the Great
Our communities’ knowledge of hymns and icons is not “skimpy.” Church schools should continue to teach the Bible through these.
Finally, Mr. Karakas writes, “[The Greek language] has helped and served our wonderful parents and grandparents well.” We would add that it also served the Evangelists well. “But today,” he says, it “stands as one of the many barriers to the faithful and must be curtailed or eliminated entirely.”
In chapter 21 of John’s Gospel, Christ asks Peter if he loves Him. The first two times, Christ uses the word “agape” — unconditional love — but Peter responds using only “filia” — friendly love. The third time, Christ asks using “filia,” too, humbly accepting that “filia” is all Peter will give Him. In leading translations, and even in the Orthodox Study Bible, only “love” is used. The distinction between “filia” and “agape,” which illustrates the struggle of Peter and the humility of Christ, is lost in translation.
While Mr. Karakas believes that the Greek language is a barrier, it is actually the opposite. As this passage shows, the Greek language is a gateway to Christ — a gateway chosen by the Evangelists and the Apostle Paul. The church should continue to use it.
While we appreciate Mr. Karakas’s offer of proposals, we respectfully disagree with them.
Stavros and Nikolaos Piperis, Omaha, Nebraska
Nikolaos Piperis is a graduate student studying philosophy at Boston College. Stavros Piperis is a senior undergraduate student studying political science at Boston College and co-president of the university’s Hellenic Society. Both brothers are members of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Omaha.
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4 comments
Stavros and Nikolaos Piperis, two brothers who live in Omaha, Nebraska. You my fellow Orthodox Christians have it all wrong. You write that Mr.Karakas ,he seems to suggest that our reverence for our church fathers, saints and apostles may be distracting us from Christ. You disagree with his view on the Greek Langauge! I agree that you have the God given right to disagree with him or anyone for that matter, but but But I my friends have the God given Talent to Call out B.S. when I see it. So umm ,,,LLLLLLLLET me cllllearrrr my throat!
BULLSHIT!!!!!!
TO BOTH OF YOU BROTHERS.
TWO brothers what a surprise with all the same criticism that comes from the current regime,hierarchy, Dictatorship run ways of current,Yes our current (2019) Greek Orthodox Church.
Nikolaos Piperis is a graduate student studying philosophy at Boston College. Stavros Piperis is a senior undergraduate student studying political science at Boston College and co-president of the university’s Hellenic Society. Now You would think with all the time spent in Boston by both Brothers. Especially a Co-President .I know you both have as many of us up in the Northeast do, What I like to Refer to as a Front Row Seat, yes some first class knowledge of the Farce being played out by the Local Bishop.Not to mention the absurd situation the Archbishop and his “yes” men have brought us, the Greek Orthodox Parishioners to their knees and have made us (“The Greek/American”) STOP –
MY DEFINITION OF A GREEK/AMERICAN!
A person/citizen, so Proud of his Heritage, so proud to be connected to the home of Democracy , That even though that Person/Citizen or permanent resident, Which at one time was born or fled his home land for a Chance at a dream in the Greatest Country On Gods Green Earth. Which is truly the only place to be honest & free, to speak your mind, without fear of repercussions or consequences. Yes, we are people so proud of our Ancestors. That we have to make sure everyone understands we are Greek first/then American. “Imagine how proud we are to be called GREEK/AMERICANS………..?”…………Well guess what?
THIS CHURCH HAS SINGLE HANDEDLY MADE US!
The religious laughing stock of the Entire World. By absolutely just destroying for personal gain , greed, and in most cases ego. The most important Religious monument of our time! ST.NICHOLAS of GroundZero,NycNeVeRForGet. A.k.a
St. Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center
9/11 . ILuvUEllatha
Now here’s what I need you both to do for me. Instead of spending hours writing such professional responses to a 93 year old man who has retired in Florida and seen more $%it in a decade then you’ve both seen combined, I remind you a man who can literally say he was here from the beginning.
Instead of writing such a professional response, why dont you please and how can you deny me?
I ask you so kindly”Help him, help us, please do spend half the time you spent on Mr.Karakas suggestions and come up with your own because the Greek Churches in America are on a steep decline. Infact many predict the Greek Orthodox Church of America if continued down this current path will only lead to extinction.
Here’s a call out!
I ask not just the both of you my fellow brothers NIKO AND STAVROS, no today I will be naive. Today I ask you all my brothers and sisters Of The World ,especially the Greek/Americans!
BLESS US WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS! PLEASE!!! I BEG YOU FOR
Is that the future you want for your kids? Because I sure dont want everything our Grandparents, parents, in-laws, And our family.
That’s what we all are A BIG HUUUUGGE FAMILY and our FAMILIES entire lifes work on Greek Churches in America. WILL NOT Just disappear, because people are wasting time with Bullshit Political responses the Wrong @%^&>*$ responses to the right Questions?
I SAY TO ALL,
“-START ASKING AND KEEP ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
– DONT TAKE NO OR SILENCE FOR AN ANSWER!
– THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO SAY KNOW THEY’RE WRONG” eheheh M.M
We’ve Let them hide behind cannons and spiritual law.For to long!
No one is perfect, that’s what life is . Learning from your mistakes.Trying your best and leaving your best behind for the next generation. If we do that ,and truly try our best! Then they “our children” “Gods Children ” will never be able to turn back and ask us how and why we failed.?!
PROTA O THEOS
To his Holiness we all serve ,
WARMEST regards,
G.D
Dear Stavros and Nikolaos Piperis~
Thank you for your response to my Op-Ed. I welcome emails to those wishing to reply to my comments, either pro or con. I too love my faith as you do. If you were to read all of the articles I have recently written for publication in the National Herald, OCL Newsletter, the Pappas Post and elsewhere, you will gain understanding that I discuss many issues regarding the American Orthodox Church today which have far reaching implications beyond just your comments. The topic of reform and how to bring about reform in order to survive and thrive in the future within the church is ongoing, extremely complex and multi-faceted.
I have lived my life in observance of the Orthodox faith. I reserve the right to point out it’s failures of meddling in the operations of Holy Cross Seminary and Holy Cross College, it’s destructive innocence in not being aware of the losses at the Archdiocese since made whole, and the St. Nicholas Shrine; the sordid treatment afforded the sexually abused of our own GO Nuns and then also, the refusal of His Eminence to retire at the two-time requests of the Patriarch. Within the Archdiocese structure, there were some acolytes and clergy who refused to hear the truth of the sexual aggression and often denigrated the nuns and the press for printing the sad factual truth regarding the many crimes. Where I ask is the transparency in disclosure? How many years does it take the archdiocese et al, to honestly and decisively face and acknowledge this monumental blemish on our faith? If not soon, it will fester, reveal and be symptomatic of severe maladies and behaviors within the clerical/hierarchical phalanx. Our clerical structure as it now stands is the chief obstacle in the way of reform. Prayerfully, the next meeting with the new Archbishop and new Bishops, except Chicago, will reveal a great deal about whether the GO customs can reform itself to become accountable for the dastardly crimes it has routinely hidden for decades.
To your comments on the use of the English language in the liturgy, and as an active church goer, I love to hear the liturgy in Greek, and at times even tear; however, ours is a universal faith and we should act like it. We must adopt the language of our nation. We have many 2nd and 3rd generation Greek-Americans and interfaith marriages with households of family members both young and old, who don’t speak or understand the Greek language, and probably will never be interested in learning the language. Should we exclude them from learning and abiding in the Orthodox faith?
While I applaud your love of our faith and culture, our dwindling church membership and attendance equate to significant financial losses and shortfalls which face our churches today. How do you propose for the church to foster its young, bring converts into the faith and flourish in the future if we don’t bring about sweeping reform? How can we attract the unchurched, the lapsed and the non-active Orthodox to join us in praising our God and Creator? Our Catholic brothers have abandoned Latin in favor of English and have instituted a retirement age requirement. If you ever wonder where a substantial number of GO people have gone, just observe the growing Antiochian jurisdiction and other faiths or houses of worship.
The Bible passages which you have quoted have great relevance, but do not reverberate to the maladies that are sinking our church today. I humbly offer these comments to my parish brothers and I am pleased that you are intensely interested in Orthodoxy and the salvation of the church. Please continue your studies, and I end with~
Yours in Christ,
Nick Karakas
Addendum Number 2 To : Orthodox Brothers Nicholas and Stavros,
I offer two additions to your carefully crafted emails. These comments are tendered in love and friendship. First, the importance of using Greek by the great apostle Paul and the wonderful Evangelists, used the language of that period. Would you expect them to be so successful if they spoke in a language different from the Greek?
So let’s bring this scenario forward to the 21st century. Why do we make it so difficult for our people to make Orthodoxy their life- long faith, especially for the converts. Those who wish to have a liturgy in the Greek language should arrange this matter with their bishop or their parish priest.
With regard to the length of service, bishops and above ; the Catholic church has a retirement age
of 75 years but, allows in increments of 5 years of additional service when approved by the Pope. I think we Orthodox should adopt this reasonable proposal yesterday. This recommendation will help insure a steady increase of qualified candidates for the position of bishop and archbishop. Except for the current sad dip in our population caused by drugs and alcohol, our citizens are living longer and healthier. The 75 age limit should have been applied to archbishops Athenagoras and Iacovos, excellent servants of God, yet had they devoted their later years of life towards, teaching, writing and sermonizing, our faith would have been immeasurably blessed.
Yours in the Faith,
Nick Karakas
Addendum Number 2 To : Orthodox Brothers Nicholaos and Stavros,
I offer two additions to your carefully crafted emails. These comments are tendered in love and friendship. First, the importance of using Greek by the great apostle Paul and the wonderful Evangelists, used the language of that period. Would you expect them to be so successful if they spoke in a language different from the Greek?
So let’s bring this scenario forward to the 21st century. Why do we make it so difficult for our people to make Orthodoxy their life- long faith, especially for the converts. Those who wish to have a liturgy in the Greek language should arrange this matter with their bishop or their parish priest.
With regard to the length of service, bishops and above ; the Catholic church has a retirement age
of 75 years but, allows in increments of 5 years of additional service when approved by the Pope. I think we Orthodox should adopt this reasonable proposal yesterday. This recommendation will help insure a steady increase of qualified candidates for the position of bishop and archbishop. Except for the current sad dip in our population caused by drugs and alcohol, our citizens are living longer and healthier. The 75 age limit should have been applied to archbishops Athenagoras and Iacovos, excellent servants of God, yet had they devoted their later years of life towards, teaching, writing and sermonizing, our faith would have been immeasurably blessed.
Yours in the Faith,
Nick Karakas