ECUMENISM IS DOMINATED BY UNCLEAN SPIRITS

ECUMENISM IS DOMINATED BY UNCLEAN SPIRITS

From the book “Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church - A Synod Licking in Synodicity and Orthodox self-awareness, ” a publication by “Synaxis of Orthodox Romaics ‘Fotis Kontoglou,”, Trikala, March 2016. This book is the transcript of the 3-hour program of the conversation between the manager of the Piraeus Church Radio Station, Mr. Lykourgos Markoudis and professor Demetrios Tseleggides— professor Tseleggides details Elder Ephraim’s of Katounakia attestation to him relative to the topic of ecumenism.

In what follows, I will say something that pertains to a personal deposition. I was associated for several decades with Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, of renowned ethos and conscience. Also renowned was the fact that he possessed a “spiritual television.” As for me, I had gone to him on many occasions, always with the intention of posing certain very specific questions, in a specific sequence, and using my own vocabulary. When I would visit him, and without ever stipulating or presenting to him my questions, he would give me the replies that I sought, in the sequence and even using the vocabulary to which I was accustomed. I am mentioning this as a de facto personal experience; such experience is not an unprecedented phenomenon—it has been experienced by many others as well.

There was one time when—as a young professor at the School of Theology at the time, about thirty years ago—I had mentioned the following to him. Given that the clime of Ecumenism has also been flourishing in the School of Theology—especially that of Thessaloniki—I had certain nagging problems and questions, because I could see it being represented by otherwise respected professors. Naturally, both my conscience as well as my learning had reacted against it, however, I desired—beyond my scientific status—to also obtain a charismatic reply, which is something that I did for many other issues. Thus, I asked him on the matter in hand—if he could tell me what kind of thing Ecumenism is.

He replied outrightly and without any difficulty:

This question, my child, had also been posed by someone else, sometime before you. I myself have been up here on these rocks for forty years... I have even forgotten my Greek (note that he had completed Middle School) and as such, I haven’t preoccupied myself with that issue. But, because I had to reply—seeing that I had been asked about it, and since I had no knowledge

of the matter—I went to my cell and prayed, asking Christ to inform me what Ecumenism is. I received His reply, which was that Ecumenism has a spirit of wickedness and is dominated by unclean spirits.

So I asked him exactly how that was verified. He replied that: After praying, my cell became filled with an unbearable stench, which caused my soul to feel asphyxiated; 

I couldn’t breathe, spiritually-speaking.

I asked him if that had been an extraordinary event for him, or if that was the way that Christ responds in analogous cases, and he assured me that... in all the cases that are involved with sorcery, with unclean spirits, that is the state in which He introduces me. Sometimes there is a spoken response, but in the present case, that was His answer and I have the absolute certainty that Ecumenism does not have the Holy Spirit, but the unclean spirit.

What I am saying at this moment one might say has the character of intentional impressions. However, I want to inform you that I was overjoyed, because what the 

Elder had told me in person, I had also seen recorded by his pious monks, who had published a book about his person, his spirituality and his words. Thus, it has been certified in there as well, but it has also been verified through discussions with other, trustworthy theologians, who likewise happened to have heard it personally.

I had not publicly mentioned this until now; however, thing? have taken such a turn, that I am obliged to bring it up. O: course, it had played a decisive role in my stance toward? Ecumenism. As a professor, a scientist, I am naturally obligee in every case to examine the matter with scientific criteria and to substantiate my viewpoint scientifically—and that  what I do in my classes also, step by step; however, I regarc this deposition to be significant, because it was delivered ir a charismatic manner by a man who knew nothing about the issue. He had never read, never heard of it, and yet, h; deposited his direct spiritual experience.  I think that thing speak for themselves here.


Orthodox Heritage.MARCH-APRIL 2018

http://www.OrthodoxHeritage.Org