KNOW THYSELF

A Pastoral Encyclical on the Cremation of the Dead and the Sanctity of the Human Body

2026-03-13T04:08:00.005-04:00

PASTORAL ENCYCLICAL ON THE CREMATION OF THE DEAD
PAVLOS, BY THE GRACE OF GOD
METROPOLITAN OF THE MOST HOLY METROPOLIS OF SERVIA AND KOZANI

Sunday of Orthodoxy 2026

To the pious clergy and the devout and saint-loving people of our Sacred Metropolis.

My beloved spiritual children,

Taking the opportunity given to us by this Sunday, on which the Feast of Orthodoxy is celebrated, we will attempt, with unity of heart, to convey to your good hearts and Christ-centered minds a few theological, spiritual, and scriptural reflections concerning the issue of the cremation of the dead.

In order to approach this timely subject, we must first consider what man is. The Old Testament emphatically notes the importance and greatness of man in comparison with the rest of creation. God created everything through His word — “He spoke and it came to be” — in five days: first heaven, earth, and the billions of stars; then plants, animals, birds, reptiles, and the whole irrational creation. On the sixth day He created man, not merely by His word, but with the participation of His Son and Word and of the Holy Spirit. The entire Holy Trinity was Creator in the making of man, as is stated in the Book of Genesis:

“Let Us make man according to Our image and likeness. Let him rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and over everything that moves upon the earth” (Gen. 1:26–27).

Argumentum ex Silentio - (Is the Cremation of the Dead "Permitted?")

2026-01-29T15:12:00.003-05:00

By Fr. Theodosios Martzouchos

“But even at his final moment he dared to ‘set fire’ even to his own earthly remains: he took care that the place where his bones would rest should remain unknown… And his bones were lost, according to his command, in the forest of Kerasia.”

Archimandrite Vasilios Gontikakis,
Elder Porphyrios as an Athonite, p. 78.

“When Abba Arsenios was about to depart this life, his disciples were troubled; and he said to them: ‘The hour has not yet come. But when the hour does come, I tell you this: I shall be judged with you before the fearful tribunal if you give my relics to anyone.’ They said to him: ‘What then shall we do, since we do not know how to bury you?’ And the elder said to them: ‘Do you not know how to tie a rope to my foot and drag me up the mountain?’”

The Gerontikon, Abba Arsenios, 40.

A television persona died and chose (whether personally or through relatives — it makes no difference) cremation instead of the customary burial.

This event became the spark for a “social conflagration” over an issue that has long been smoldering beneath the surface, precisely because it is unclear how many people actually accept such a practice and, when the time comes, how many will choose it.

Much emotional and psychological commentary was written, and there was even an appeal to the… magisterium — not to persuade, but to silence.

Yet commands must persuade and must be well-founded. If they lack these elements, the fault lies not with those who do not obey them, but with those who hasten to issue judgments.

Modern man, faced with all this, will think:

“So what? Can’t I choose how my body will decompose? Don’t I have the right?”

"The Body is Not the Soul’s Garbage"

2026-01-15T16:32:00.009-05:00

By Fr. Libyos

If the body has no worth, then neither does the soul.

The body is not the soul’s garbage, to be burned in the landfills of our “pseudo-civilization.”

You see, we have this “modern,” “rational” idea that cremation is simply a technical solution: cleaner, more efficient, more ecological, less space, less “trouble.”

But this is precisely where the problem lies.

Because the real question is not, “What is more practical?”

The real question is: what kind of civilization are we, when we consider it normal to burn a human being?

On Burial and Cremation

2026-01-15T16:19:00.003-05:00

By Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong

After the cremation of the body of a journalist and presenter, I read quite a few comments: some gave a defense against cremation, others supportive of the performance of a funeral service for those who are to be cremated.

Personally, I found something I read in a television program’s “chyron” to be disturbing: “reactions to the presenter’s cremation are intensifying.”

What does it mean that reactions are intensifying, and who is reacting?

Some people who play at being ecclesiastical journalists and create artificial tensions on television programs?

Or others who cash in their atheism on the payrolls of TV channels?

And what is the aim of this kind of reporting?

It is to such vulgarities that we should react.

The Cremation of Bodies, According to the Church of Greece (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

2026-01-12T17:24:00.003-05:00

The Cremation (Burning) of Bodies, According to the Church of Greece

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Various people ask me what the “official” decision of the Church of Greece is regarding the cremation of bodies. Certainly, some clergy have expressed their views on this matter and these have appeared in the media and on social networks; however, what matters is the decision of the Church of Greece itself, both from a theological standpoint and with regard to the pastoral consequences.

1. The Holy Synod has dealt repeatedly with this timely issue. On March 3, 1999, it organized a conference at the Caravel Hotel on the theme: “The Cremation of the Dead: Findings and Prospects for a Better Pastoral Approach to the Issue.” It was organized by the Synodal Committee on Dogmatic and Canonical Issues of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

Ethics and Asceticism (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

2026-01-03T11:30:00.004-05:00

Ethics and Asceticism

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

Orthodox ethics differs from philosophical ethics, as well as from Western Christian ethics, just as Orthodoxy itself differs from philosophy and from other Christian confessions. It differs from philosophy because philosophical ethics is a consequence of various philosophical ideas, and it differs from the Christian ethics of the various confessions because, depending on each confession, a particular ethic follows. For example, Western Christian ethics speaks of the duties of the Christian toward God, toward one’s neighbor, toward the State, society, the Fatherland, and so on.

In Orthodoxy, however, when we speak of ethics, we mean the rebirth of the human person; and of course, when a person is spiritually reborn, he then behaves rightly toward God, other people, and society. This means that Orthodox ethics is identified with asceticism. And asceticism is the effort of a person to keep the commandments of Christ in his personal life.

On Nuclear Restraint and Responsibility (Fr. George Florovsky)

2025-06-24T04:40:00.000-04:00

Georges Florovsky: Letter to Davis McCaughey

Florovsky, Georges ; Obolevitch, Teresa

Studies in East European Thought, 2025-02, Vol.77 (1), p.225-229

Abstract

The letter from Georges Florovsky to Davis McCaughey is a reflection after reading the Report The Era of Atomic Power: Report of a Commission (1946). Florovsky gives his own arguments against the development of research concerning nuclear weapons and their use. These include: treating an attempt at a technical transformation of the world as a human claim to put oneself in God’s place, i.e., to be a God-man. Another group of indictments against the use of the atomic bomb concerned ethical issues and human responsibility for the war. Florovsky’s letter is his contribution to the discussion on the threat posed by the atomic bomb.

__________________________

Self-Love: The Passion of our Time (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

2024-06-08T13:58:00.012-04:00

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The whole debate about homosexuals and their "marriage" that is taking place nowadays has primarily highlighted, among other things, the passion of self-love. Of course, this does not only apply to homosexuals, but also to heterosexuals, when they place as the center of their lives the irrational and excessive love for their body, and limit themselves only to instincts, misrecognizing the whole human being. This in the patristic tradition of the Church is called self-love.

The word "self-love" (filautia - φιλαυτία) in modern language is interpreted as "the excessive love for oneself," "egomania," in contrast to the love for others (filallilia - φιλαλληλία). However, in the patristic tradition, self-love is not considered as love for ourselves, but as excessive love for our body with the satisfaction of all its demands and pleasures.

Interview With Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos on the Same-Sex Marriage Bill in Greece

2024-02-19T11:31:00.026-05:00

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou calls those who voted for the same-sex "marriage" bill to assume their responsibilities towards the Orthodox people and God. Speaking exclusively to ope.gr and the journalist Demetris Stroumbakos, His Eminence referred to this unprecedented law for Greece. At the same time, he does not hide his sadness for the way in which the final outcome of the vote was interpreted by the International Mass Media.

Below are excerpts of what His Eminence said in the telephone interview:

Metropolitan Hierotheos, with his deeply theological words and his always substantiated opinion, said the following referring to the passing of the bill:

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos Speaks to Press on the Announcement of the Church of Greece on Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption

2024-01-24T16:09:00.006-05:00

When the Archbishop said "no", everyone applauded him, said Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou, a member of the Hierarchy's press committee, speaking to ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation). The decision was unanimous, there was no objection and no reaction, instead we saw the unity of the Church, he pointed out among other things.

He added that "a text will be drawn up which will be read in the churches, in the sacred temples, on February 4th. It is called 'To the People' and it is customary for the Church to do this for serious matters. She writes a text to inform the people. Subsequently or at the same time, a text with a legal framework and legal content will be drawn up, which will be sent to all members of Parliament."

When asked if the love of the Church also concerns people who have a different sexual preference and live with their partner, he answered:

Announcement by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Greece

2024-01-24T13:44:00.010-05:00

The Holy and Sacred Synod, meeting under the presidency of His All-Holiness in its regular session, today, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, reminds the pious flock of the All-Revered Ecumenical Throne, of the discussion regarding the institutionalization of marriage between individuals of the same sex and adoption in Greece, of the binding Decision of the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church (Crete, June 2016), that "the Church does not allow for her members to contract same-sex unions or any other form of cohabitation apart from marriage" which is "the union of man and woman in Christ" and which "constitutes 'a small church' or an icon of the Church" (text "The Mystery of Marriage and Its Impediments", I.10 and 4). It is noted at the same time that the members of the Church who enter into such forms of cohabitation must be treated with pastoral responsibility and love in Christ.

From the Archsecretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Announcement by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece Regarding Homosexual Marriage and Adoption

2024-01-23T15:02:00.009-05:00

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece convened in an emergency meeting, today, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, with the sole subject of the announced legislation on marriage and "adoption" in favor of same-sex couples.

After the customary prayer, the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy listened to the presentation of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, on which a dialogue followed, and unanimously expresses the positions of the Church of Greece on the matter, as follows:

1. The theology of the Church on marriage derives from Holy Scripture, the teaching of the Fathers of the Church and the arrangement of the Mystery of Marriage and is clearly seen in the Service of this Mystery.

The purpose of Christian marriage is the creation of a good marriage and family, the development of children as fruits of the love in Christ of the two spouses and their connection to ecclesiastical life.

The Two Sexes and "Sexual Orientations" -- "Same-sex Marriage" and "Adoption" (Two Short Pastoral Essays by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

2023-12-21T12:07:00.008-05:00

The Two Sexes and "Sexual Orientations"

November 29, 2023

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The Church is in conversation with the world, the people, near and far, with their concerns and their problems, yet within its theology, which is the consensus patrum (that is, the agreement of the Fathers, which was formulated in Synod) it also considers the data of today's science. Therefore, everyone should not have arbitrary and individual interpretations.

One of the topical issues that is discussed especially in our days is the topic of homosexuality and it is often sought, by those who ask us, to express the Church's teaching on this.

However, this topic is both simple and complex. It is simple, because when we refer to the creation of humans there are two sexes, male and female. And it is complex, because there are many and varied "sexual orientations", due to the passions and the differentiation of the movements of the psychic and somatic energies.

Sexuality and the Orthodox Church

2023-10-06T14:48:00.001-04:00

By Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalkidona

There is a lot of talk about new forms of family and new definitions of human relationships, about people's sexual choices and directions. The prevailing reason is for the personal rights of all people, for the absolute freedom to choose partners, but there is also the shallow sexuality that leads to brief pleasures.

We easily place labels on everything that we find difficult for us, on everything that does not agree with us, such as e.g. "racist", "liberal", "immoral", "conservative", "homophobic", etc. Nowhere, however, is the label "human"!

In Orthodox theology, things are absolutely clear. "Male and female did God create them" (Gen. 1:27). In Cana of Galilee, Christ blessing the marriage (Jn. 2:1-11) we come across a family relationship between man and woman, with the aim of uniting the two in one body and their common path to heaven, without of course the condition of childbearing, as many mistakenly believe.

Statement of the Church of Cyprus on the Criminalization of Sexual Orientation and Gender Conversion Therapies

2023-06-16T11:16:00.011-04:00

Over a year ago, the activist group Accept-LGBTI Cyprus surveyed around 100 people and revealed that conversion therapies for sexual orientation or gender identity are still being carried out in Cyprus. According to this report, it found that

1. A victim was forced by a priest to kneel in front of a statue of Jesus Christ and apologize for having sinned.

2. Another was forced by an endocrinologist to take a course of testosterone (male sex hormones) because the doctor said he was too effeminate.

3. Another was exorcised by a priest.

4. Some people had attempted suicide following the so-called therapies.

This prompted lawmakers to propose a ban on all forms of conversion therapies for sexual orientation and gender identity, and make it a crime if any attempt is made at such conversion therapies.

On Cremation of the Dead (St. Paisios the Athonite)

2022-07-12T11:52:00.000-04:00

Saint Paisios the Athonite said the following about cremation:

Someone came here, a University professor, and he told me that they are seriously considering burning the bones of the dead, because there is no room.

"Look," I said to him, "why isn't there room? Thessaloniki has so many forests! The whole of Chortiatis! Fill a cemetery, after 3-4 years, you make another one further down. Why have they filled the mountains everywhere with apartment buildings?"

He also told me that it is from a hygiene point of view! What do you mean from the point of view of hygiene, while you have polluted the whole world, you have polluted the sea in Thessaloniki and elsewhere, while the bones are washed and cleaned! Have a little respect. But they want to degrade people, to make them worth nothing, to tear them from their roots, from their ancestors, from their tradition, to leave them alone and desolate, to destroy their memory, their connection with their predecessors, with the values and life of their ancestors, in order to then do whatever they want with various theories that pull them here and there. They go to spread atheism. Someone has died? Oh well, they're gone!

The Sin of War - Our Only Enemy Is Death

2022-04-12T13:29:00.009-04:00

By Protopresbyter Fr. Thomas Bambinis

The Sin of War

War is a great temptation for the consciences of the faithful. It extinguishes love. They identify it with selfishness, at best they subjugate it to national selfishness. Of course, the battles that take place in defensive wars are not only inevitable, they are also just, but even in these just wars, all the darkness of people is easily manifested, as well as, of course, all of the brilliant greatness of those who struggle on behalf of the just, the sacred and the freedom of their people with selflessness and self-denial, without obvious hatred for the aggressors.

War and the Orthodox Church (George Mantzarides)

2022-02-28T11:20:00.004-05:00

By George Mantzarides,
Professor Emeritus of the Theological School of the

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

War, as an armed and bloody conflict of organized groups, is one of the most serious and distressing problems of man, especially in our time. The experience of the two world wars, the endless series of military engagements that followed them, but also the existence of terrifying means of destruction, which can wipe out hundreds of times not only the human race, but also every trace of civilization from the face of the earth, is enough to reveal the magnitude of the problem.

Heraclitus argued that war was the "father of all." This view remains with small variations strong to this day. Many even observe that peace is a form of war, waged with politics or economics. On the contrary, for the Church the "Father of all" is not war, but the God of peace (2 Cor. 13:11). And the coming of God into the world is a gospel of peace (Luke 2:14).

The Burning Issue of Euthanasia

2021-10-14T11:54:00.011-04:00

By Archdeacon Raphael Misiaoulis
of the Sacred Metropolis of Tamasos and Oreinis

This past year, and not only, we have seen in the media the issue of euthanasia being discussed by various people and whether a dialogue should be opened on this issue.

Euthanasia as a subject is not easily accessible and this is because both as a concept and much more its transformation into action, leads the individual to dilemmas and controversial situations.

The term "euthanasia" is a term that is purely related to medical science and refers to the cessation of life through the help of a doctor, in order to redeem the person suffering from the pain of their illness and to reach a calm end.

On the contrary, in ancient times, as already mentioned, euthanasia was the good and calm death or the glorious death on the battlefield.

Thoughts on World Contraception Day (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

2021-09-25T16:52:00.006-04:00

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Unfortunately we live in a secular society, even if it is called and self-described as Christian. And of course this Christianity is also secularized.

Within this perspective is the disregard of the daily Christian feasts, in which our Saints are featured by the Church, who are models for our lives and for holiness, and there are other holidays that refer to human life, and in fact to events that are not inspired by the commandments of Christ.

Among the many celebrated world days is "World Contraception Day".* People have established a world day, in which the contraception of the child will be "celebrated", that is, the human desire to feel pleasure, but without the birth of children, which is the continuation of life.

"Give Heed To Thyself" (A Homily of St. Basil the Great)

2019-08-29T13:18:00.011-04:00

For St. Basil, "Know Thyself" (Gnothi Seauton) is closely connected with "Give Heed to Thyself" (Proseche Seauton), for you cannot know yourself unless you guard yourself, and you cannot guard yourself unless you know yourself. The origins of this saying is in Deuteronomy 4:9, which says: "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life." Know Thyself and Give Heed to Thyself are so closely connected, that some Church Fathers believed the ancient Greek maxim had its origins in Moses and in Solomon, who says: "If thou know not thyself, thou fair one among women, go thou forth by the footsteps of the flocks, and feed thy kids by the shepherd’s tents" (Song of Songs 1:8).