Mount Athos: It is foreign to the teaching of the Gospel for a same-sex couple to be considered a family

The Holy Community of Mount Athos issued a statement, on the occasion of, as it emphasizes, recent public positions of the Church’s clergy, “even Hierarchs”, which “give the impression that it is possible for the Church to accept any other form of family than this which establishes the Holy Gospel”.

He characteristically notes, among other things, that “it is clearly foreign to the teachings of the Gospel and the Orthodox ethos to allow it to be understood that a “same-sex couple” can be considered as a family and recognize the right to adopt children, as any such this kind of adoption or adoption is contrary to the evangelical teaching, human nature but also to the morals and traditions of our people, while at the same time it violates the elementary rights of innocent defenseless people, who do not have the possibility to choose a normal family environment”.

Read the announcement of Mount Athos

“On the occasion of recent public appearances and positions of clergy of the Church, even hierarchs, which give the impression that it is possible for the Church to accept any other form of family, except that established by the Holy Gospel, the Holy Community wishes to place and publicly.

Mount Athos, as a place of prayer and practice, with unbroken liturgical and spiritual continuity, humbly prays for the universe, for all people regardless of discrimination. The sacrament of baptism, by which man becomes a member of the Church and receives the grace of the Holy Spirit, is undoubtedly the visible expression of God’s infinite love. The effort to live according to the holy Gospel and the law of God ensures the conditions for participation in the mysteries of the Church.

In light of the above, we could only express our regret for the above public appearances and positions of Church figures, which provide reasons for scandalizing the faithful people. It is clearly foreign to the teaching of the Gospel and the Orthodox ethos to allow it to be understood that a “same-sex couple” can be considered as a family and to recognize the right to adopt children, as any such form of adoption or adoption is contrary to the Gospel teaching, human nature but also the morals and traditions of our people, while at the same time it violates the elementary rights of innocent defenseless people, who do not have the possibility to choose a normal family environment.

We express the above as a voice of sincere interest in the course of our country, and indeed in such a critical period for it. May the Patroness of our country and Superintendent of Mount Athos, the Most Holy Theotokos, intercede for our Lord Jesus Christ to lead everyone to repentance and life according to the light of the Gospel and His teaching.

All the Representatives and Supervisors in the joint meeting
of the twenty Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos”.

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