HOMOSEXUALITY IS A GRAVE SIN ACCORDING TO THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH

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"Error" means delusion. The Holy Apostle Paul, and the rest of Holy Scripture, is clear. To claim that homosexuality is natural or an "alternative life-style" is delusion. Rather, it is UNNATURAL, SHAMEFUL AND UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD. Sex, of course, is not evil, for it is a gift of God. But sex, outside of marriage IS IMMORAL AND SINFUL, FOR IT VIOLATES GOD’S LAW. "COVETOUSNESS," wanting something that belongs to someone else, IS A SINFUL PASSION WHICH CORRUPTS OUR DESIRES. It leads the soul to grasp for more regardless of the will of God. Jesus said, "You shall not commit adultery" (Matthew 19:18). Saint Paul very clearly says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither FORNICATORS, NOR IDOLATERS, NOR ADULTERERS, NOR HOMOSEXAULS, NOR SODOMITES…" (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Given the traditional Orthodox understanding of the Old and New Testament Holy Scripture as expressed in the Church liturgical worship, sacramental rites, canonical regulations and lives and teachings of the Holy Fathers, it is clear that the Orthodox Church identifies solidly with those Christians who abide by the God’s commandments and believe that homosexuality as a sinful life-style, a disorder and illness, a perversion, unnatural and destructive. Homosexuals and lesbians are invited and encouraged to repent and to live a life of celibacy, a life of virtue, and a life obedient to the will and commandments of our Savior and God Jesus Christ.

According to the Orthodox Church not all sins are willful and voluntary, not not all acts of sin are the conscious fault of those who commit them; at least not at first. There are sins of ignorance and passions, sin which "work in our members," as Saint Paul says, even against our rational and conscious wills (Romans 6-8). These are the sins referred to in our Church’s divine prayers when the faithful beg God for forgiveness and pardon of sins which are not only conscious, but unconscious; not only voluntary but INVOLUNTARY. However, the fact that these sins are not freely chosen do not make them any less sinful. To sin (Gk. amartia) means to miss the mark, to deviate, to defile,to transgress…whether or not the act is consciously willed and whether or not the offender personally is freely and fully at fault.

What is emphasized in our Holy Orthodox Christian Faith is to come to the knowledge of truth and to sincerely repent (metanoia). According to our Orthodox Christian Holy Tradition, Christians are redeemed sinners. They are human beings who have been saved from sickness and sin, delivered from the devil and death by God’s grace through faith in Jesus by the Holy Spirit’s power. Saint Paul states: "And such were some of you. But you were WASHED, BUT YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, BUT YOU WERE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD" (1 Corinthians 6:11). Salvation includes being, "WASHEDs" in the Holy Baptism, "SANCTIFIED" through the giving of the Holy Spirit in the oil of CHRISMATION, and "JUSTIFIED" through our faith. "Such were some of you" shows that in Christ we can be set free from the very worst of sins (see vv. 8-10).

The Christian who is tempted to engage in homesexuality is called to a rigorous fight. His or her struggle is extremely difficult and bitter. There are many emotional and spiritual battles to face. However, a Christian always turns to the God of mercy and love for strength and guidance to overcome this horrendous temptation. The secular world and governments not only support this life-style but promote and even mandate it. The European Union demands that any country wishing to be a member of it must accept the practice of abortion, homosexuality and prostitution. Christianity,however, condemns all of these practices as wrong, evil and unacceptable. Abortion, homosexuality and prostitution are an affront to our Divine and All-Holy Creator and God. It is also a outright attack on Christianity and Christian values and morality.

THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE CHURCH SPEAK ON HOMOSEXUALITY

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (c. 347-407 A.D.) Preached extensively against same-sex practices (especially in his Homilies on Romans), describing them as unnatural, degrading, and contrary to the fundamental order of creation.

SAINT BASIL THE GREAT (330-379 A.D.) in his canonical letters, he prescribed specific periods of penance for those guilty of "unseemliness with males," equating the severity of the sin to adultery.

SAINT EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA (260-339 A.D.) Pointed Leviticus to condemn the "union of women wtth women and men with men," arguing that such practices defiled ancient nations and were contrary to God’s law.

The Eastern Orthodox Church does NOT ordain openly homosexual individuals as bishops or priests. The Church interprets its Patristic teachings, Holy Scripture and canonical heritage to strictly forbid both homosexual acts and same-sex unions. Orthodox Canon Law, such as the CAnons of Saint Basil the Great and SAint the Faster, strictly forbids sexual activity outside of a traditional, heterosexual marriage. Also, clergy are held to the moral standards outlined in the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:2). Any promotion of homosexuality or same-sex unions by an ordained clergyman is viewed as a fundamental break with Orthodox teaching. Bishops are required to be celibete, while priests have the option to be married to a woman before ordination. No openly practicing gay men can be admitted to the Priesthood. Orthodox bishops and priests who violate the holy canons willfully and secretly are technically subject to defrocking (deposition) if discovered.

Sadly, however, it has been alleged that there are Orthodox bishops and priests who not only approve homosexuality but that some of them engage in this vile act. It was discovered that in the Roman Catholic church there were thousands of boys and in some cases little girls who were violated sexually by their priests in the U.S. as well as in European countries. The Roman Catholic parishes, Diocese and in general the Roman Catholic church were found guilty of hiding this horrific exploitation of children and the courts awarded countless millions of dollars to all the victims. The lives of the children who were violated in parishes and seminaries were devastated and their lives practically destroyed. How can anyone subscribe to this evil life-style?

In the Anglican and Episcopal communion homosexuality and lesbianism is approved and promoted. Many of their clergy, bishops and even Archbishops are openly homosexuals and lesbians. Look at what has happened to this communion and it has destroyed it from within.

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in Christ’s Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George