Comments on: Women Priests and Gay Marriage in the Orthodox Church

By: andre

andre — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:25:55 +0000

In reply to Anonymous. I believe that you believe you are not homophobic. But you do fail to understand biology. I wonder what you would say to someone born intersex. There are many aspects within Scripture and the writings of the Faithers that the Orthodox Church either never or no longer adhere to. Only one of numerous examples is Matthew 5:27-28. Would anyone ever go to the holy mysteries if this command were followed to the letter of the law? Love. mercy, understanding, compassion and humility is what we all need. I bid you peace. andriy

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 01:58:29 +0000

I am not homophobic I have no ‘fear’ of people regardless of their preference for gender and unfortunately all of the flowery sensitive talk’ or sophisticated dialogue will alfer theological ‘givens’ regarding the need for those not in Sacramental marriages to tefrain from sexual relations ..and whatever married couples engage in asside from that which is intended for procreative endings should also be carried out in a loving environment…I came from a RC background where rigidity created a great deal of guilt in married couples for any activity outside of activity not culminating in the missionary position….the obvious juriidical nature, in all respects in the Western Church was responsible for many people leaving the Church….we all know that the intimacy expressed in love between couples can be beautiful…sorry for the cliche but I have gay friends who live chaste/celibant lives recieive the Sacraments frequently…I pray for those struggling ☦️

By: andre

andre — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:38:46 +0000

In reply to John Pelican.

Thank you, John, for your comment. As you know, marriage is not only about a sexual relationship, and so celibacy or more correctly chastity, is not the only issue. If you are married, you know that marriage is not only about sex. If you are not married, then you might falsely assume that it is. During our wedding ceremony, we heard the hymn to the martyrs, reminding us that marriage is about sacrifice, putting the needs of our partner before our own. Most gay people want the exact same thing that many straight people do. I pray and hope that you will understand that, or at least be open to thinking about it.
Wishing you peace,
Andriy

By: John Pelican

John Pelican — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:17:40 +0000

Why would you leave the ministry?…can’t you live celibant….your same sex attraction seems moot

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:36:31 +0000

I am so sorry about the emails from the Serbs. Do forgive us – we are a bit backward.

By: Afif Demetrius

Afif Demetrius — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 22:02:07 +0000

God be with you Father,
I just saw your article and wanted to comment very fast.
We all know that Jesus didn’t say exactly “I’m God” but he said “Me and My Father are one”, also he did almighty things that only God can do, for that we “UNDERSTAND” that he is God. In the same sense Jesus didn’t tell anything about same sex marriage but still he said: ” at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female” and in the creation story in Genesis, we know that God created a “Woman” for the “Man” and we also know why God created them (matter you, to share love and share the creation by giving birth to new humans) .. Let’s imagine that Adam or Eve, one of them was gay?
The moral of the story is that we should not be waiting for God to give us “orders” rather we should be knowing his will .. Elisabeth Behr-Sigel asks to accept those people with an open mind.. which is very good, but there is a difference between accepting our “sick Children” and accepting “sickness” itself..

By: andre

andre — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 01:23:00 +0000

In reply to Michael.

Dear Michael,
Thank you for your email and support of this website. Your message touched me and I am sure that many will be struck by your directness as well as the pain you experienced. What you found and your journey is no different from what numerous other LGBT Orthodox Christians and their family and friends have experienced.

We love the Orthodox Church, its beauty and richness, and also what is at the core of its message, the love and truth of Christ. Unfortunately the earthly Church has some searching to do and changes that need to be made. They are still arguing and divided (!) on when to celebrate the Lord’s Nativity. Perhaps the fact that the majority of the Orthodox lived under official atheistic rule and are still, to some extent, guided, if not directed, by a certain type of state rule, means that the Church did not and has not yet understood how to pastor all of God’s creation. I certainly agree with you that in many instances the Church needs to act more like Christ.

Hopefully in your life you have learned never to say never. In this case about returning to Christianity and hopefully the Orthodox Church. I understand that it might take quite some time, finding a different parish, and trying to “fly” under the radar about your sexual orientation and even relationship. These are some of the sacrifices that many of us have decided to accept in order to be part of the beauty and richness you first fell in love with.

I hope that you stay in touch.
I bid you peace,
Andriy

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 25 Dec 2016 22:34:22 +0000

Just had to briefly comment. I read Ware’s book TOC many years ago, and formally was received as an Orthodox in 2001. I loved the beauty of liturgy, and the richness of its spirituality. I fell in love with so many of her saints. The Church’s homophobia, however, led me to despair as years passed. My spiritual father, my pastor, and virtually every Orthodox I encountered laid it all bare to me: I could choose a life of loneliness and self-loathing, or I could choose hell. Which was which? I dropped out of the Church, out of Christianity, into other belief systems, now considering myself nonreligious altogether. I think the way the chirch treats its gay members is cruel and vicious; I’m not hopeful its leaders will change their views, ever. Which is ironic, because compassion is central to Christ’s message. But if you’re gay? No economia–either fit in or else. I just shake my head. I miss the liturgy to this day, and I have icons in storage, couldn’t bear to keep them out. The cross symbolizes freedom to so many, to me it’s slavery and hatred. Sorry for the rant. Hope I didn’t offend. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong down the road and the Church will become Christlike.

By: andre

andre — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 00:37:56 +0000

In reply to Thomas.

Thomas,
Thank you for your email and support of this website. While I agree that His Grace, Bishop Kallistos did not go as far as we would have liked, at least he is talking about these issues, with some sort of pastoral approach. Most other Orthodox bishops either ignore the topic entirely, as if there are no gay bishops, priests or faithful, OR speak about us in such disparaging ways, that can only be characterized as uncharitable or in some instances reprehensible.
The Lord indeed needs to be entreated to soften the hearts of those who lead His Church.
I bid you peace,
Andriy

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:10:59 +0000

Dear Father Andre,
I too would be a member of His Grace’s fan club. His books did much to guide me to the Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church. His deep and broad view of the Church and Tradition is very inspiring and has kept me assisted me greatly in remaining an Orthodox Christian despite being homosexual. I did see a YouTube video of his recently where he spoke on ordination of women and ” gay marriage “. His view on female ordination was quite interesting and open minded. He has obviously given this issue a great deal of serious thought and research. Sadly, the view of marriage for homosexuals, though progressive and accepting of the reality of same -sex attraction and true, mutual love and intimacy he clearly states that such unions are “not blessed ” by God. He has counseled gay couples and he has said he asks them to become celibate and to refrain from any physical or genital expression of that love.
That is where it becomes difficult for me to continue to listen to. I think it should be up to the married couple on what kind of physical expression of their love to engage in. It seems the love between two souls is recognized, even honored. Once physical expression, if your homosexual, is engaged in we are road to ruin. This is too simplistic for me, and seems much too focused on the genital expression of love between two souls of the same gender. Heterosexual genital expression of mutual love, certainly engaged in by some for non-procreation may be frowned upon but is acceptable? It has always deemed to me that we are judged to be engaging in nothing but lust. This is what I find to be unacceptable. This kind of view of love…in a box. Love is too vast to be contained in a box. I do remain optimistic that our Lord and Master will change hearts, as only He can. Thank you for listening. Thank you for this website. Please bless Father.