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Submitted November 2, 2004

Response to Theodore Kalmoukos

I am incensed by your inflammatory editorial in The National Herald (29 Oct 2004), “Ignorance Fosters Confusion when it Comes To the Hellenic Nature of Christian Orthodoxy.” The tone of your message shows a marked lack of inner appropriation of the gospel. You deride those who disagree with you as being equal in theological education to third-grade children. This is not “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) according to the Apostle’s teaching. This sort of arrogance spits upon the extremely humble example of Christ, who said “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

You are correct in pointing out the great importance of Christianity’s Greek context. Reading the Scriptures and the Fathers in Greek reveals untold riches of meaning that are otherwise inaccessible. However, learning Demotic (Modern) Greek is of very little help in understanding these texts. The Greek language has changed dramatically over the past thousand years, so that contemporary Greeks cannot understand the Scriptures, the Fathers or even the Liturgy without special training in biblical and patristic Greek. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (indeed, every Orthodox jurisdiction) should certainly promote education in ancient Greek language and culture in order to promote a deeper learning of the faith. Teaching Modern Greek language and culture, however, does little to achieve this purpose.

Moreover, you overstate the importance of Hellenism for early Christianity. Jesus and all the first Apostles were Jews. St. Paul fought and suffered to show that the gospel did not just come for the Jews but also for the Greeks. He argued tirelessly that Greeks do not need to adopt Jewish customs in order to be genuine Christians. He certainly would not now advocate a Greek monoculture for the Church. In light of his efforts to demonstrate the gospel’s universal scope, we might paraphrase his words to the Romans: Is God the God of Greeks only? Is he not the God of Americans, Chinese, Africans, etc.? Yes, of these also, since God is one (Rom. 3:29-30).

A wise man once said: “Orthodoxy is the absence of all one sidedness.” Hellenism, Americanism, or any other “-ism” blinds us to the incomprehensible breadth and depth of the mystery of Christ’s coming. Let us all with open eyes and humble hearts approach the throne of God and seek wisdom from Him.



Volume 6 Number 45 - Tuesday, November 9th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY