SECOND LETTER TO HIS BEATITUDE THEOPHILOS, PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM, CONCERNING THE IMPROPER PHRASE IN THE REINSTATEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT, 9/18/2006
His Beatitude
Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos
In Jerusalem
Your Beatitude
Because, until today, I have not received an answer to my letter to you from July 12, I am returning to the same subject, which for me is of great moral importance.
As you may have noticed, in my application for reinstatement, I was asking, along with my canonical reinstatement, also my moral reinstatement which, for me, is far more important than the canonical one. As you know very well, the reason I was defrocked by Patriarch Diodoros was my protests concerning the situation prevailing, during his days, which was very bad according to common opinion. I could have ignored the situation and avoided all the trouble I got into because of my protests, and still be in my position up until the present. You know very well, as we have discussed this case many times in the past, that whatever I did, I did it for reasons of conscience and for this reason I cannot reject them now, especially after all that has happened up until today. It would have been very thoughtless for me to do what I did to the point to be expelled from my position, and come now to beg to be accepted back.
The way that the decision of my reinstatement is phrased, it actually justifies everything Diodoros did and leaves me condemned, for a second time and in a final way, at a time that I want to believe has nothing in common with the times of Diodoros, and by people whom I respected, loved, trusted and was hoping to work and cooperate with, for the improvement of the situation of our Patriarchate.
Since, as I explained to you, the way the decision was phrased is not acceptable by me, I would like to ask you once again to correct it. One suggestion is to write that: “..in response to questions for clarifications concerning the case of the reinstatement of Archbishop of Askalon, former Bishop Nikiphoros of Constantine, we inform you that, the Holy Synod having re-examined the case has deemed that there is no more reason for him to be punished and decided to return him to his place in the Patriarchate..” etc. Of course, I am sure, you can find other ways to change the unfortunate phrase in a way that will satisfy my moral and conscientious dilemma.
If, contrary to my hopes, you think that my punishments were justifiable, I would like to ask you, as I did in my former letters and talks with you, to please tell me for what reasons you believe this and that will be enough for me.
In eager anticipation of your positive response to my letter and my rightful and moral request, I remain with brotherly embrace in the name of the Lord.
+Archbishop Nikiphoros of Askalon
Athens, September 18, 2006
WELCOME
THE CHRONICLE OF MY PROTESTS
LETTER TO PATRIARCH DIODOROS
OPEN LETTER TO PATRIARCH EIRINEOS
ANNOUNCEMENT OF MY REINSTATEMENT
LETTER #1 TO PATRIARCH THEOPHILOS
LETTER #2 TO PATRIARCH THEOPHILOS
OPEN LETTER OF RESIGNATION
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANATHEMA
