How to Recognize a Good Priest or Bishop - Met. Augustinos Kantiotes

Orthodox Wisdom

"What is the hallmark of a priest? To gather prosphora? To perform nice services? To preach sweetly and 'usefully' from the ambo and make a few young ladies tear up emotionally from his contemplative thoughts? What is the hallmark of a priest and bishop in these difficult years?..." A reading from "The Christian in the End Times", 2nd edition, pp. 39-41 -READ the text here: https://www.orthodoxethos.com/post/how-to-recognize-a-good-priest-or-bishop -FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ Met. Augustinos says: I'll say something that I've never said before. You'll say it's egotistical, but I'll give you a set of scales so you can weigh the priests, the bishops and all the clergy and theologians. What is that set of scales? What is the hallmark of a priest? To gather prosphora? To perform nice services? To preach sweetly and "usefully" from the ambo and make a few young ladies tear up emotionally from his contemplative thoughts? What is the hallmark of a priest and bishop in these difficult years? The hallmark of a bishop and a priest is their fighting spirit, their outspokenness. It's what the Apostle Paul said, that all who desire to lead a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12). If you see a priest, if you see a theologian, if you see a metropolitan or archbishop who is not being persecuted, but is enjoying the love and honour of all, then the following word of God is being applied: Woe to you when all men speak well of you (Lk. 6:26). You should know very well, that that person is not heading in the right direction. The same thing applies if he is called Orthodox but doesn't want to go against the trend, the avalanche which is coming to demolish the world. An Orthodox priest goes against the trend. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!