Marine beats up Greek priest

E.C. · Nov 11, 2009

Michael the Iconographer said:
NO! We should not. We should never be affraid to be Orthodox. We should never back down from practicing our faith out of fear that the enemy will find a way to attack us. Being luke warm in our love of Christ and our practice of Christianity will simply get us vomitted out of Christ's mouth. Scripture is black and white on that issue.

Why is it Moslems are not affraid to live their faith. Why is it Moslems are not affraid to cry outrage when they perceive persecution? Why is it Christians are more than fine with allowing icnococlasm to occur and not raise one single voice of defense for the very things we hold sacred.

No, I say to our priests do not stop dressing like priests simply out of fear from an attack from the enemy!

Si, es la verdad!

Although to attempt to answer the "why" bits, I must blame the lack of spirituality within the Western Churches. It is much easier to say "I'm from a non-Christian religion and per that I pray five times a day" than it is to say "I am from Eastern Christianity and pray unceasingly".

One must also remember that when the Muslims took over the Middle East, the West assumed that all the Christians were either immediately killed off or simple disappeared off the face of the earth. The West believed that when Islam came in there was 0% Christian population in the entire Middle East; we know that that is not the case.
Thus the West forgets that Islam took the robes, beards and funny hats from Christianity.

The Western World, in my candid opinion, needs to learn that there is Christianity outside of Catholicism and Protestantism and that within said Christianity the clergy wear cassocks, riasas, pectoral crosses, funny hats and are more so bearded than not.

Ortho_Cat · Nov 11, 2009

E.C. said:
The Western World, in my candid opinion, needs to learn that there is Christianity outside of Catholicism and Protestantism and that within said Christianity the clergy wear cassocks, riasas, pectoral crosses, funny hats and are more so bearded than not.

I agree. I'm going to spread the word. Anyone else with me?

Sothron · Nov 11, 2009

This truly IS an outrage! One of our beloved Orthodox priests beaten like a dog by some ignorant fool out of misplaced racism? God forbid! I know the father has forgiven him and is not pressing charges but I hope the criminal system still charges him regardless. That piece of filth needs to be sent to prison. You don't get to beat people with a tire iron because you assume they are a freaking terrorist.

Michael G · Nov 11, 2009

E.C. said:
Thus the West forgets that Islam took the robes, beards and funny hats from Christianity.

The Western World, in my candid opinion, needs to learn that there is Christianity outside of Catholicism and Protestantism and that within said Christianity the clergy wear cassocks, riasas, pectoral crosses, funny hats and are more so bearded than not.

Exactly!

MariaRegina · Nov 11, 2009

E.C. said:
Si, es la verdad!

Although to attempt to answer the "why" bits, I must blame the lack of spirituality within the Western Churches. It is much easier to say "I'm from a non-Christian religion and per that I pray five times a day" than it is to say "I am from Eastern Christianity and pray unceasingly".

One must also remember that when the Muslims took over the Middle East, the West assumed that all the Christians were either immediately killed off or simple disappeared off the face of the earth. The West believed that when Islam came in there was 0% Christian population in the entire Middle East; we know that that is not the case.
Thus the West forgets that Islam took the robes, beards and funny hats from Christianity.

The Western World, in my candid opinion, needs to learn that there is Christianity outside of Catholicism and Protestantism and that within said Christianity the clergy wear cassocks, riasas, pectoral crosses, funny hats and are more so bearded than not.

Do you realize that at my University, they have an annual interfaith religious conference where all the Western Christians have a one day conference.
Then they place the Jews, Orthodox Christians, Coptic Christians, Buddhists, Islam, Hindi, and other non-Christian religions together for the second day of conferences, which they entitle Eastern Religions?

katherine2001 · Nov 11, 2009

Personally, I am old enough to remember when RC priests wore cassocks and maybe they need to go back to wearing them also.

katherine2001 · Nov 11, 2009

MariaRegina said:
Do you realize that at my University, they have an annual interfaith religious conference where all the Western Christians have a one day conference.
Then they place the Jews, Orthodox Christians, Coptic Christians, Buddhists, Islam, Hindi, and other non-Christian religions together for the second day of conferences, which they entitle Eastern Religions?

I can believe it. Our local private college has a religion department and the head of it always makes sure that her students learn about Orthodoxy. She is RC, but she is very knowledgeable about Orthodoxy, and always brings her classes to liturgy one Sunday and has Fr. John come and discuss the Orthodox faith in her classroom (I'm sure it doesn't hurt that his undergraduate degree is in Byzantine Studies--which is how he learned about Orthodoxy).

MariaRegina · Nov 11, 2009

When I was a Catholic, most of the priests in our parishes were Dominicans, so we did not see cassocks but white habits.

The first time I saw Muslims with their long white dresses and white veils in Oakland, California, I thought they were a new Catholic religious order, but they did not behave like Catholic nuns, and they wore spike heels. ^_^

michaeldimmickjr · Nov 11, 2009

rainbowbright said:
he thought he was a Muslim terrorist

Marine reservist accused of attacking Greek priest - Florida AP - MiamiHerald.com

forgive me for my response but this is exactly the mentality i expect from the armed services. attack first- ask questions later. it's bad enough there's so much ignorance in society- but when it comes from the people who are protecting us, in this case- a weekend warrior, how are we supposed to feel safe?

Lord have mercy on them both.

and

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Michael

HandmaidenOfGod · Nov 11, 2009

michaeldimmickjr said:
forgive me for my response but this is exactly the mentality i expect from the armed services. attack first- ask questions later. it's bad enough there's so much ignorance in society- but when it comes from the people who are protecting us, in this case- a weekend warrior, how are we supposed to feel safe?

Lord have mercy on them both.

and

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Michael

Excuse me, but the majority of our service men do NOT walk around attacking priests. As the daughter and niece of several of our servicemen and having friends in the service, you are exhibiting just as much ignorance towards the military as this INDIVIDUAL exhibited towards the priest.

Khaleas · Nov 11, 2009

michaeldimmickjr said:
forgive me for my response but this is exactly the mentality i expect from the armed services. attack first- ask questions later. it's bad enough there's so much ignorance in society- but when it comes from the people who are protecting us, in this case- a weekend warrior, how are we supposed to feel safe?

Lord have mercy on them both.

and

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Michael

"Staff Edit"

The vast majority of service members knows how to separate civilian life and military duty. This guy might not have seen more action than the swamps at Parris Island.
The international news says that there was a security camera there as well that proves that the priest didn't do anything to the guy.

Visiting Greek priest returns to work after attack

michaeldimmickjr · Nov 11, 2009

HandmaidenOfGod said:
Excuse me, but the majority of our service men do NOT walk around attacking priests. As the daughter and niece of several of our servicemen and having friends in the service, you are exhibiting just as much ignorance towards the military as this INDIVIDUAL exhibited towards the priest.

you're right, and this is why i started out with "forgive me for my response..." i understood from the beginning that my reply was out of anger and that i was being stereotypical.

my dad is a vietnam vet. my cousin is in iraq right now. i also know people who serve, served in the military.

as of late- i hear more negative things that lessen the respect i have for the military in general- NOT individuals. i respect the fact that they are doing what they feel is right- however, that does not give them free range to take matters into their own hands.

what if this priest had been a muslim or whatever this man claims- would that have made it ok? does the fact that he was a priest make it worse? i don't believe it should- we are all equal in Gods eyes. if this marine did this to a bum on the street i would feel the exact same way.

i apologize for my anger. i am not attacking anyone personally, i am simply disgusted with the military in general.

Michael

michaeldimmickjr · Nov 11, 2009

Khaleas said:
"Staff Edit"

The vast majority of service members knows how to separate civilian life and military duty. This guy might not have seen more action than the swamps at Parris Island.
The international news says that there was a security camera there as well that proves that the priest didn't do anything to the guy.

Visiting Greek priest returns to work after attack

once again, i apologize. i'm not trying to "bash" anyone.

rainbowbright · Nov 11, 2009

Dorothea said:
I'll finally be making that this evening since there isn't a cubscout meeting tonight. They're doing their special Veterans DAy service this afternoon at our local City Hall. So, I should be seeing you tonight!

Great! maybe you can chant with us. see you in an hour.

wow, truly amazing, Fr Alexios was already back at work, conductinga funeral and the parishoners said it was like nothing happened. He also isn't going to press charges.Was priest's beating a hate crime?

-Kyriaki- · Nov 11, 2009

Andrew21091 said:
Well, not all Greek priests wear a cross since only archpriests and archimandrites wear pectoral crosses in the Greek tradition unlike in the Russian wear all priests wear one.

This, and also not all those entitled to the honour do it. My priest is an archimandrite, and he pretends to be a simple monk in his dress and actions most of the time (so no pectoral cross except in Church), with the exception of formal things like heirarchial liturgies when he suddenly transforms into one

He gets annoyed at us when we call him anything except Father, even when it's for official things!

So, there's not necessarily a cross to look at and use to figure these things out.

Sigh. This is madness.

Gwenyfur · Nov 11, 2009

Blackknight said:
Freaking jarheads. Lord have mercy!

easy on the jarheads...don't paint 'em all with the tainted brush this "model" who pretends to be a Marine one weekend a month has painted himself...

MariaRegina said:
Is this Marine reservist projecting, when he himself is involved in unsavory acts?

See Marine arrested in attack on Orthodox priest

heh...no wonder...prolly hasn't stopped hittin' the cocaine

Anyone gotta beef with painting all Service members with this tainted brush need to lay off...
Especially on Veteran's Day...

Blackknight · Nov 11, 2009

I AM a Veteran so I know full well that anybody that wears the uniform is supposed to be held to a higher standard. If I was this guy's CO he'd be losing a few stripes and facing courts martial.

Gwenyfur · Nov 11, 2009

Blackknight said:
I AM a Veteran so I know full well that anybody that wears the uniform is supposed to be held to a higher standard. If I was this guy's CO he'd be losing a few stripes and facing courts martial.

As am I...if he were one of my boys the CO might have enough hide left to courts martial...

cassc · Nov 11, 2009

I am completely horrified that this attack took place. IMHO the issue is not that it is horrible to attack an Orthodox Priest with a tire iron it's horrible that anyone is being attached with a tire iron. The fact that the victim is a Priest just adds another level of sadness to the whole situation.

cassc · Nov 11, 2009

Lord Have Mercy!

Marine beats up Greek priest

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