[The Great Schism] resulted in the prevention of Christianism and the progress of Mohammedanims, whose motto is, “Kill the Infidels,” because every one who is not a Mohammedan, according to the Koran of the prophet, is an infidel, a dog. […] The people of the orient suffered, and still suffer; the Christian virgins are dishonored by the followers of the moral prophet, and the life of a Christian is not considered as precious as that of a dog.

I got this off of Matthew Namee’s website (which is quite good btw). I don’t mean to post this to impugn Imam Rauf, after all, Metropolitan +Philip and Rauf are of one mind on promoting the politically correct view of Islamist civilization, but to stress again the necessity for having a clear idea of history. Narrative matters and the one that should be adhered to at all times is that narrative which is more objectively true.

Our leaders in Istanbul, Alexandria, and Antioch (as do many reactionary ideologues) may tell us that we have nothing to fear from Islam, but our immigrant forebears told us something else. “Who are you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?”

Lately Satan presents himself as a ‘loving’ and understanding towards sinners, a peacemaker and a stylish blasphemer. He leads people to deeply believe in their self-righteousness. Often, those who claim to be cradle Orthodox are no less confused. The story below is proof. There is a “tradition” that during the night preceding the feast of All Saints the dark spirits celebrate their own feast:

In America this “celebration” called Halloween has become an occasion on which children make mischief dressed in costumes of witches, devils, ghosts, as if calling on the dark powers — a diabolic mockery of Christianity. A group of Russians organized on this night a Halloween Ball. In the San Francisco Cathedral at this time was the All-night Vigil celebrated, and a number of people were absent, to the great sorrow of Vladika. After the service Vladika went to the place where the ball was still in progress. He climbed the steps and entered the hall, to the absolute astonishment of the participants. The music stopped and Vladika, in complete silence, glared at the dumbfounded people, slowly and deliberately making the round of the entire hall, staff in hand. He spoke not a word, and none was necessary; the mere sight of Vladika stung the conscience of all, as was evident from the general consternation. Vladika left in silence; and the next day in church he thundered his holy indignation and his flaming zeal calling all to the devout Christian life. Yet Vladika is not best remembered by his flock for his sternness, but rather for his gentleness, his joyfulness, even for what is known as “foolishness for Christ’s sake.”

The Orthodox world did not perish when it was outnumbered ten to one against the Ottomans. It is not going to perish now. If God wants He can raise men that would turn all people to Him. God can turn all of us to Him in one day, but He respects our free will. The devil is no match at all for the forces of heaven. Mortal people with a cross can drive him back. Almost always the Saints are depicted in icons holding a cross.

And, they are winning favorable sentiments from many filipinos who grew up from RC background. Perhaps, the EP can be a mediator for balancing the 2 sides of monarchial institutions- Vatican & Shariah law.

I’m maintaining a regular radio broadcast “Voice of Orthodoxy” on a local AM station in metro Manila. But my little freaky voice seems unnoticed even from those expats who claim to be cradle Orthodox! Perhaps, I might change the format by simply disseminating on air the EP messages as “Green Patriarch” or introducing Hellenism into Filipino culture!

But, I believe I must preach the Truth of Orthodoxy as a native Orthodox priest even without bordering on nationalism and cultural issues!

Anyone who like to share one’s concerns is most appreciated.

absolutely right, Alexis. My ultimate concern with Rauf’s multicultural ethos is that yes, Orthodoxy, heterodox Christian confessions, and even Judaism can coexist peacefully within the Ummah for centuries even, but leaving aside the cultural decrepitude that invariably sets it, I fear more for the damage done to the Church’s mission. Let’s be honest, the dhimmi churches of Istanbul, Damascus, Jerusalem, Alexandrian, etc. have lost their evangelical fervor.

that’s bad enough as far as they’re concerned but look at how they’ve transferred their dysfunction over here to us. And I’m not talking only about the loss of evangelistic zeal, but our disunity, turf battles, widely varying orthopraxy, deviant ecclesiologies (who’s higher, a metropolitan or an archbishop?), etc.

Even if we accept the best-case scenario, of large, tolerated Christian and Jewish cities living peacably within the larger Ummah, the fact remains that unless Islamic civilization can reverse its aversion to free inquiry, it will continue to grow and survive only by devouring its native, non-Islamic components.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that Islam is Islam, and Christendom is Christendom. We can live peacably provided we don’t intrude on each others’ turf. It would be wrong therefore to import the pathologies (cousin-marriage, polygamy, female genital mutilation, honor-killings, etc.) of these societies into the West. Just as Imam Rauf is an apologist for Islam, I guess you could call me an apologist for the West.