While Orthodoxy in Dialogue has had its disagreements with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, we are profoundly grateful to His Eminence for marching today in the footsteps of his predecessor in Selma, Alabama, Archbishop Iakovos of thrice-blessed memory. Many Years, O Master! Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, Δέσποτα!

Marjorie Kunch of Pascha Press, for her part, published the following statement earlier today on its Facebook page.

Doesn’t look six feet apart to me, nor a grouping of 10 persons or less.

I guess COVID is only a concern for Pascha, hence all the church closures on the holiest day of the year. Protests, though, totally fine. No risk there! Read More

The following appeared earlier today on the Facebook page of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

So far as we know, His Eminence is the first Orthodox hierarch to follow in the footsteps of Archbishop Iakovos of thrice-blessed memory in Selma, Alabama.

Many Years, O Master! Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, Δέσποτα!

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I came here to Brooklyn today in order to stand in solidarity with my fellow sisters and brothers whose rights have been sorely abused. This was a peaceful protest, one without violence of any kind, and I thank all of those involved, because violence begets only more violence. We must speak and speak loudly against the injustice in our country. It is our moral duty and obligation to uphold the sanctity of every human being. We have faced a pandemic of grave physical illness, but the spiritual illness in our land runs even deeper and must be healed by actions as well as words. And so, I will continue to stand in the breach together with all those who are committed to preserving peace, justice, and equality for every citizen of goodwill, regardless of their race, religion, gender or ethnic origin. Read More

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To date the following is the most direct, incisive, and powerful statement that we have seen from an Orthodox hierarch in response to events unfolding in the US since the murder of George Floyd. It was brought to Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s attention by a Metropolitan of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago

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Like so many of you, it was with heartache, confusion and outrage that I watched the images of a white police officer, whose duty is to “serve and protect,” kneeling on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, who lay subdued and prostrated on the street, as his dignity, rights and life were slowly extinguished. It was shocking and devastating to witness a fellow human being begging for breath in the face of callous disregard for human life. This heart-wrenching injustice has now set our communities on fire, and alongside peaceful protests calling for much needed change, we have seen violent confrontation, looting and property destruction. Read More