DESPOTES (Gr. Δεσπότης)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIS IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

DESPOTES (Gr. Δεσπότης)

In everyday modern Greek, the word is commonly used to refer to a bishop (despotis), carrying no negative or tyrannical connotation in that religious context. Despotes also means "lord" or "master"; it historically served as an honorary court title for Byzantine Emperors and princes and a traditional address for bishops. However, in modern everyday language, it refers to someone who uses absolute power or authority in a cruel, harsh, or oppressive way. Orthodox liturgical services, Deacons and faithful traditionally address a bishop as "Despotes" as a mark of spiritual respect.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR BISHOPS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

"This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good
behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children
in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how
will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall
into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among
those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:1-7).

Saint John Chrysostom on "blameless": "Every virtue is implied in this word. (The bishop’s) life should be unspotted so that all should look up to him, and make his life the model of their own." In the early Church, a bishop could be married. Today married men may be ordained to the Orthodox Priesthood. The Sixth Ecumenical Synod (581 A.D.) sanctioned celibetate bishops, but only as a special dispensation relative to the feeling that it was not acceptable for a bishop to live with a woman. Married bishops are in accordance with the general teaching of Orthodox Canon Law.

Individual Orthodox Patriarchs, Archbishops, and bishops have historically fallen into heresy, abused their power, and engaged in corruption, as they are human beings without personal infallibility. However, Orthodox theology teaches that the Church as a body of Christ remains holy, meaning individual corrupt hierarchs do not invalidate the Church itself. These lapses were corrected not by a single supreme pontiff, but by the wider body of the Church and Ecumenical Synods, which judged, deposed, and excommunicated errant hierarchs.

Today, more than ever before, an Orthodox Hierarch (Bishop) ought to be truly "an icon of Jesus Christ," "the Shepherd and Overseer." The challenges that humanity is confronted with are enormous. The faithful need true shepherds to guide them,protect them, inspire them and assure them of our Almighty God’s presence and love for all of mankind. To encourage them to remain faithful to the divine commandments of our Lord, God and Savior Christ and the teachings of Our Holy Orthodox Church.

Saint Paul in his letter to the Apostle Timothy lays out clearly the requirements and responsibilities of the Episcopos or Overseer of the Church. It is imperative that all of our hierarchs abide by his directives. We need our hierarchs to exhibit humility, love, compassion and set a good example to all. No one should deviate from Sacred Tradition of our Orthodox Church but preserve, protect and promote the Dogmas, Holy Canons, divine teachings of the Holy Fathers of the Church and be obedient to the decisions of the Seven Ecumenical Synods.

Attention should be given to the Presbyters (Priests) of the Church who constantly serve, teach and guide the faithful entrusted to them by God. Orthodox Seminaries need to do their best not only to educate the future clergy but to prepare them spiritually. The world has become a more dangerous and complicated place that challenges the very core of Orthodox Christianity and, therefore, the presbyters need the support, guidance, and respect of all. Let us not forget that the majority of our priests are married with families that share the diakonia (ministry) of the priest, husband and father. Someone in authority said of the priests,some years ago, as being "a necessary evil" which I find scandalous and disgraceful.

Congregationalism has absolutely no place in the Orthodox Church. It is a Protestant system. We are not Protestant! The Orthodox ordained priest must be the head of his parish as is according to our Holy Tradition, Orthodox parishes in the Church of Greece have administrative committees, but they operate differently and possess much less broad authority than the large elected Parish Councils found in America. The parish priest in Greece heads or heavily guides the committee, under the strict supervision of the local bishop. The committee’s responsibilities are limited in scope. These committees handle basic physical maintenance, utility bills, and day-to-day building upkeep. They are not administratively superior to the parish priest and do not interfere or dictate to him how to minister his parish.. Parish Councils in America have abused, what they perceived, as their authority in the local parish, and treated their parish priest with disrespect, malice and disdain. Created a political climate within the parish and many times conspired to have the priest removed from the parish assigned him by the Archdiocese of Metropolis.. The horrific treatment of the priests caused hardship, suffering and pain not only to the priest but his presbytera and children.

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

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