Professor John Fountoulis (+ January 24, 2007)

Prof. Fountoulis at a clerical conference

Dr. Georgios D. Panagopoulos,
Professor of Orthodox Dogmatics at the University Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens 

A few days ago, an elect soul, a man of God, Professor Ioannis (John) Fountoulis, departed from this vain world.

Ioannis Fountoulis was born in 1927 in Mesagros of Lesvos to parents from Asia Minor. He studied Theology at the University of Athens, from which he graduated with highest honors. He then pursued excellent postgraduate studies in Belgium, Germany, and France. He was awarded a doctorate by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Thessaloniki. He worked extensively and produced studies and books on liturgical manuscripts in libraries and museums both in Greece and abroad. He contributed articles to a multitude of journals within and outside Greece. He continued to work tirelessly even after his retirement. He participated in many conferences, at which he left an indelible personal mark. He labored creatively for the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The local Church of his birthplace owes him much, since he contributed greatly to the discovery and promotion of the Saints of Lesvos. He was spiritually and by family ties connected with the late Metropolitan of Mytilene, His Eminence Iakovos II. He was married and the father of three children.

Prologue in Sermons: December 18

Not Everyone Can Be a Christian Teacher

December 18
 
(A Word from the 'Pandok'* on Eloquence)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Especially in recent times, very many people—some out of self-interest, some out of ignorance, some out of spiritual pride—take upon themselves the role of church teachers, and the fruits of this are exceedingly bitter. Such uncalled teachers for the most part distort the dogmas of the faith, interpret the word of God senselessly, twist the lives of the saints beyond recognition, and by doing so, mortally sin themselves and draw others into mortal sins as well. What should be said to such people? This: before teaching others, let them listen to whether every one of us can be a teacher, and whether everyone by his teaching can bring benefit to others.

Prologue in Sermons: September 17

The Unskilled Should Not Take Upon Themselves the Title of Teachers and Interpret the Word of God

September 17

(From the Paterikon: On Anger and Repentance)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It happens that the literate among you, especially those who have lived in the cities for a considerable time and listened to various scholars, return home and assume the title of teachers. They gather the simpletons around them, begin to read to them from the Divine Scriptures, and interpret the words of Holy Scripture as they please, fully confident that they are doing a good deed. That they read from the Divine Scriptures is truly a good deed on their part, but that they interpret the Divine Words in their own way cannot be called a good deed, for often their arbitrary interpretations give rise to superstitions, prejudices, and most destructive errors. Worst of all, when such teachers are confronted with the idea that this or that passage of Scripture has been interpreted incorrectly, they almost never admit their error, and everyone will assume they are right. This stubbornness often leads them to the point of completely separating from the Church and becoming schismatics. In their own destruction, they lead many others to destruction as well. Had they confessed their error, the Lord would have immediately forgiven them, and the Church would have immediately accepted them into communion.

Something Small for the Great Christos Yannaras

Christos Yannaras, a popular professor of philosophy, author and columnist, reposed at his country residence in Kythira on August 24, 2024, aged 89. He left behind a rich amount of written works, which besides philosophical topics also included topics related to Orthodox Christianity. His 1970 book The Freedom of Morality is considered to have defined the core of what was later called "Neo-Orthodoxy" and has been described as "the May of '68 in Orthodox theology and ethics."

Something Small for the Great Christos Yannaras

By Father Andreas Agathokleous

It was back when, in adolescence, that we entered Catechism School as a way of safety from sin and ... "sinful society" was lurking to devour us. All ideologies emphasize danger, so that you run to them and suffocate in their arms. And we, teenagers at the time, were grateful for the suffocation, the deprivation of our freedom, the use that was made of us with... good intentions.

Fortunately, however, we had foundations: from the mother who said in difficult times "God will provide" and lived it; from the understanding of the neighborhood about the extramarital relationship of the divorced woman with five children; from the tolerance of the alcoholic neighbor who did not leave her alone with his songs; from the experience of the community with its negatives and positives.