Question on freemasonry and Orthodoxy

[sinjinsmythe]

I have heard rumors that some Orthodox patriarchs such as Meletios Metaxakis, Athenagoras, and Bartholomaios of Constantinople were/are masons.  My question is there any truth to these rumors?  By truth, I mean evidence that these people were masons.

[Mexican]

There's no evbidence about these Patriacrchs and their relations with freemassonry. The rumours, though, exist because of the close relations between the Church and the governments of Turkey and Greece, which after the desintegration of the Ottoman Empire have been fully controled by freemassonry.

This could have started before. At the time of Kyril Lukaris, this Patriarch had a very close friendship with the protestant and freemasson, George Mayer, who was in charge of "religious affairs" and had some interventions in the Church, meaning to "protestantize it". A new cathecism with calvinist tendences appeared, but it was never proved that the Patriarch had issued that cathechism.

It is clear that Christianity and Freemassonry are antithetical. Freemassonry has been condemned by the Orthodox Church, though I would wish a more fierce condemnation of it. Even the OCA has said this:

http://aggreen.net/guidelines/guide05.html#Fraternal

[Hypo-Ortho]

I once saw a photo purporting to show Patriarch Meletios Metaxakis dressed in full Masonic regalia--and this while he was Ecumenical Patriarch.  I believe the photo is in an old issue of "Orthodox Life," published by the St. Job of Pochaev Brotherhood at Holy Trinity Monastery (ROCOR), Jordanville, NY.  The accompanying article, as I recall, alleged very strongly that Patriarch Meletios was a member of the Masonic Order.  

Hypo-Ortho

[Mexican]

I was explained that the reality of that picture, is that he was receiving a condecoration from a University, and he was dressed as a member of a University who receives the title of doctor.

[Hypo-Ortho]

I was explained that the reality of that picture, is that he was receiving a condecoration from a University, and he was dressed as a member of a University who receives the title of doctor.

That explanation doesn't quite stand up to scrutiny.  When an Orthodox hierarch receives a degree, honorary or otherwise, he normally wears his riassa, klobuk and panagia.  The doctoral hood is simply placed over these episcopal/monastic garments.

Hypo-Ortho

[Mexican]

Patriarch Meletios was quite liberal, but this doesn't prove he was a mason. Do you agree with the ROCOR's possition?

[Tags:]

OrthodoxChristianity.net > Moderated Forums > Free-For-All > Religious Topics > Topic: Question on freemasonry and Orthodoxy