A number of Orthodox priests from various local churches reacted to the blasphemous display at the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday.

The organizers, who decided to show the Last Supper, offered an insincere apology afterwards. Spokeswoman Anne DeCamp told reporters: "It is clear that there was never any intention to show disrespect to any religious group." If people were offended, of course, we're really sorry."

Among the hierarchs who condemned the blasphemy that was exposed to the whole world is Metropolitan Serski Theologos of the Greek Orthodox Church. Preaching on Sunday in the Monastery of Saint Paraskeva, he said:

— Unfortunately, we see that for several decades in allegedly Christian Europe, conditions are being created that promote a model of life without God, without values, without rules and principles, without respect, without measure, without the fragrance of life, without beauty - the principles and values ​​that Greece taught the world.

Unfortunately, a way of life is being systematically promoted today, where a self-referential and passionate person becomes his own idol, a bad imitation of himself. Lawlessness is called freedom and disrespect is called the right to expression. Today, from the dark abyss of human passions, a world is emerging in which moral decline, sharp personal interests, materialism, trampling on the Divine and even the laws of nature, delinquency, amoralism, nihilism, leveling of everything and lack of basic respect dominate. All this creates and consolidates in contemporary reality a deep decadence that exudes decay and death. What was shown at the end, during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, in a specific performance, was deeply provocative, disrespectful, tasteless, offensive to the faith of millions of people around the world, to the aesthetics, but also to the very spirit of the Olympic Games.

I wonder, would these particular "artists" and the host country dare to behave in such an unacceptable manner towards the Jewish or Muslim, or any other faith? Unfortunately, Europe has been turning its back on Christ ostentatiously and with excessive ingratitude for decades. Check out the modern "Gadarenes"…

However, the world needs so much, first of all, integral and balanced role models, who will be illuminated by the light of Christ, who will be inspired by a quality and honest ethos, a pure soul and word, a mood of sincere repentance, empathy and mutual understanding. Humanity needs such healthy role models, especially today. From the highest principles of love for God and humanity.

His Eminence Metropolitan Pimen of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archdiocese also gave a sharp answer: - You mock Christ, and you are proud, as if you have done some heroic deed.

But what have you done new, man? When Christ spread his arms on the Cross to embrace the whole world, the high priests who mocked him, with the scribes and elders said: He saved others; He cannot save himself (Mt. 27, 41).

And centuries later, were not the Christians thrown to the lions in the arenas for mockery and amusement, and yet did they not return evil for evil? Not today, not ever.

Perhaps you dare to take this step because you know that immediately before, when they came out against Him as a robber, Christ said: Do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and that He will immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Mt. 26:53) However, He did not ask for legions of angels, but He asked for forgiveness for all of them.

You know that we, His disciples, have been commanded by God to turn the other cheek, so that you are comfortable in your recklessness when you mock our faith and insult our religious feelings.

But then you probably also know this: all who take the sword will perish by the sword (Mt. 26:52).

But do not fear the sword; fear that you will end up ridiculed, despised and abandoned on the world's garbage heap in the meaninglessness of your existence. Because with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you.

Man, is it so hard for you not to do to others what you wouldn't want done to you? And even worse, to sell what you do, mocking my right to religion, as a promotion and fight for your rights?

Or are there only your rights left in this world?

Freedom is not anarchy, and democracy is not enslavement to the freedom of minority groups, but an attempt to establish mutual respect in society, taking care not to cross the line from use to abuse of that freedom, which is equally gifted to all of us.

And no, I'm not going to share that parody picture from Paris. Because your goal was probably just that — for the world to be flooded with that ugly and offensive image in condemnation of what was done.

Source: orthochristian

Archbishop Macarius of Australia: It is unacceptable that such ideologies are promoted in institutions like the Olympic Games

Reflecting on the recent opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, Australian Archbishop Macarius spoke of a spectacle that was inferior to the occasion, with scenes of disrespect and insults to Christianity and the Church.

In his message via Instagram, the Archbishop pointed out: "Everyone has the right to be an atheist, but no one has the right to mock or ridicule my faith, and especially the truth of the Gospel, for which blood was shed."

“You have the freedom to live as you wish; you have the right to be homosexual, but you do not have the right to impose your lifestyle on our society," the Australian Archbishop concluded his message: "We pray that God enlightens those who want to undermine the value of faith. and we argue that it is unacceptable for such ideologies to be promoted in prestigious institutions like the Olympic Games.”

Source: orthodoxtimes

Translated by LJ. P.