by Stelios Taketzis
The term “fake news” may be a neologism, but its roots date back to ancient times as “pseudangelia” in Greek, meaning “fake news.” Historical references, such as the lie about Alexander’s death or Agamemnon’s misleading letter, underline its lasting presence. On the one hand, the Thebans claimed that Alexander the Great was supposed to have died in order to boost the morale of their warriors (which didn’t turn out very well for them). On the other hand, Agamemnon’s letter to Clytemnestra said to send their daughter Iphigenia to Aulis to marry Achilles when the real goal was to sacrifice her.
For us, residents of Constantinople, the repercussions of fake news hit close to home. The false 1955 report on the destruction of Mustafa Kemal’s birthplace following a bomb at the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki had devastating consequences, triggering violence against Greeks; In Constantinople, an angry mob began to destroy, rape and kill Greeks living in the city. They looted, desecrated and destroyed our properties, our cemeteries and our institutions. The Constantinople pogrom marked a significant decline for our community in Constantinople.
Unfortunately, fake news has struck again, this time targeting Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, a charismatic and respected leader in my opinion, not only because of his title but also because of his personality.
A recent headline incorrectly suggested that Mount Athos had called him “persona non grata” in a letter sent to the Ecumenical Patriarch. This was the Archbishop’s upcoming visit to Thessaloniki and the pilgrimage to Mount Athos.
However, the truth reveals an unfounded association with a reflection on a photo of a baptism that took place in Greece two years ago. The infant’s parents were a same-sex couple.
There is a huge difference between “a reflection in a photo” and “persona non grata”. In an age of reckless journalism and the dissemination of unverified information, this fabrication has spiraled out of control, spreading despite its blatant inaccuracies. Few journalists took the time to investigate or correct the misinformation.
The online newspaper voria.gr states: “We did not say that the archbishop was undesirable, as this is wrongly spread in the media. We accept people of other religions. We could never bar the entry of a hierarch, much less the Archbishop of America. We simply expressed our concern about the decision he made, but in no way did we ask the Ecumenical Patriarch to tell him not to come. This was emphasized for voria.gr » by sources from Mount Athos, believing that the relevant information “comes from the other side of the Atlantic”, that is to say from the United States.
The absurdity has reached comic heights and I am sure that Molière would write a play for our case entitled “La persona non grata Imaginaire”. Unfortunately, the problem is extremely serious and needs to be fixed.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. This is part of a systematic attempt to slander the Archbishop of America, echoing past experiences. Social media amplifies these lies, creating an illusion of division within the Greek community in the United States. This is reminiscent of an arsonist shouting “fire” after lighting a fire.
However, I am not in a position to know the exact reasons and motivations of those who slander the Shepherd of the United States.
Obviously, the archbishop, in his attempt to resolve the problems of the archdiocese, has harmed the interests of certain people, pushed them out of their comfort zone by withdrawing their privileges and created for himself enemies.
At the same time, however, large numbers of believers view him as a promising new leader, with vision and an appetite for work, fighting to secure the future of the Church and American Hellenism . A future that will combine the important history of the Patriarchate with modern society and Greek heritage with today’s American reality.
A large silent majority loves and supports Bishop Elpidophoros and his work. I see it, I hear it, I feel it. But how long can this silent majority remain passive? It’s a question worth pondering as we witness the impact of these misleading narratives and the need for a more nuanced understanding of the truth.
Source: anamniseis.net / Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
