WHAT IS HERESY? Metropolitan Augustinos (Kantiotis)

 

 

 

Heresy is poisonous food for the soul; it is like fake medicine, which does not cure but rather causes harm; or a counterfeit coin that appears to be a precious gold doubloon, but lacks its value. It is a perversion of Sacred Tradition; it is a distortion of the true and perfect faith; it is a deviation from the straight path traced out for us by the Word of God. Heresy is the acceptance of religious ideas condemned by the Church as false and contrary to its right faith. Heresy is a real crime that undermines the authority and influence of our Church, founded by Christ Himself as the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

But, alas, in our time, people ascribe no importance to the danger that heresy represents for us.

 

This is a sign of the times.

 

Oh, world! You are concerned about many things. You take care to drink natural milk; that your food is healthy and rich in vitamins; that medicine works; that your money isn’t counterfeit; that archaeological monuments are carefully preserved without the slightest damage; that the transportation you take doesn’t deviate from its route.

 

You can be concerned about anything, except one thing—the Orthodox faith. You are completely indifferent to it. What awaits you, world, with such a distorted perception of reality and such coldness to the faith?

 

If you remain indifferent to the greatest and highest things, you will inevitably fall into the abyss of rationalism, materialism, unbelief, and atheism, and then you will understand what is Orthodoxy, which you now despise.

 

But you, faithful souls, who continue to live in this age, be not captivated by modern worldly trends; be not afraid at the sight of the enemy’s hordes surrounding you on all sides and coming to attack you, but remain steadfast and faithful in all things to the faith transmitted to us from the saints. Be prepared to fight the good fight. Orthodoxy lives, and to it shall belong the final victory.