Thursday, September 6, 2012

Answers > What Is the Greek Orthodox Church Stance on Homosexuality?

What Is the Greek Orthodox Church Stance on Homosexuality?

by Generous Orthodoxy on January 3, 2012

I have a Greek male friend who has come to conclusion that he is bi. He is terrified his parents will find out.

The only thing he will reveal to me when I ask about his church's stance on homosexuality is that his parents will disown him if they find out.

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Fireball December 7, 2010 at 12:39 am

they will not condone it..

vanilla ice cream December 7, 2010 at 12:54 am

they hate gays like all the other religions

Morganie5 December 7, 2010 at 1:12 am

Orthodox Statement on Homosexuality

The position of the Orthodox Church toward homosexuality has been expressed by synodical canons and Patristic pronouncements beginning with the very first centuries of Orthodox ecclesiastical life.

Thus, the Orthodox Church condemns unreservedly all expressions of personal sexual experience which prove contrary to the definite and unalterable function ascribed to sex by God’s ordinance and expressed in man’s experience as a law of nature.

Thus the function of the sexual organs of a man and a woman and their bio-chemical generating forces in glands and glandular secretions are ordained by nature to serve one particular purpose, the procreation of the human kind.

However, the human sexual apparatus appears to have been designed not only as the medium by which the necessary physical contact for the purpose of sex is affected, but as the generator as well and the center of a highly complex system of feelings which all together are known by the name eros, love between husband and wife.

Therefore, any and all uses of the human sex organs for purposes other than those ordained by creation, runs contrary to the nature of things as decreed by God and produces the following wrongs:

http://www.holy-trinity.org/morality/homosexuality.html

Barrel Bottom December 7, 2010 at 1:50 am

I think they like to do it doggie style

crowster86 December 7, 2010 at 1:56 am

I am a former Greek Orthodox, and am also gay. They do not condone it, but they also do not rail someone fiercely for being gay. They take a more passive approach, and if you don’t mention it, they won’t talk about it.

Mista Wong December 7, 2010 at 2:41 am

In Europe they are far more strict.

Blodwenbogbrush December 7, 2010 at 2:49 am

Absolutely unbending!

zena e December 7, 2010 at 3:08 am

We look at homosexuality as it is written in the Bible

Greek Orthodoxy believe in Bothe The Greek Septuagint and The First Original Greek Bible.

The position of the Church is as most Christianity Believes.

Leviticus 18:22 (King James Version)

22Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
BibleGateway.com
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lev.%2018.22;&version=9;

Greek parents are very strict and will be devasted if they learn that this has befallen on their children.
They will be devasted. and blame themselves and well as their child for this type of behaviour/

However, God Loves. All in the Bible also
Love all as I have Loved you and The Greatest of All is Love . Thus I hope they will learn to Love all as Jesus die

The Gay Centurian
http://www.gaychristian101.com/Gay-Centurion.html
Paul the Gay Apostle.
http://www.gayheroes.com/paul.htm

OPsaltis December 7, 2010 at 3:38 am

He needs to discuss this with his priest in confession (which is NOT a time for punishment, but counsel). Believe me, he’s heard it all before.

The Church understands our frailties; that’s why it’s called “a hospital for souls.” Having feelings about someone is not a sin, but dwelling on them can be. Homosexual *practice is not condoned, because it amounts to either adultery or fornication, just like with heterosexuals.

From the article in the sources below,
“Generally stated, fornication, adultery, abortion, homosexuality and any form of abusive sexual behavior are considered immoral and inappropriate forms of behavior in and of themselves, and also because they attack the institution of marriage and the family.

“The only appropriate and morally fitting place for the exercise of sexual relations, according to the teachings of the Church, is marriage. The moral teaching of the Church on this matter has been unchanging since its foundation. In sum, the sanctity of marriage is the cornerstone of sexual morality. The whole range of sexual activity outside marriage – fornication, adultery and homosexuality – are thus seen as not fitting and appropriate to the Christian way of life. Like the teaching on fornication, the teachings of the Church on these and similar issues have remained constant.

“Thus, the Orthodox Church condemns unreservedly all expressions of personal sexual experience which prove contrary to the definite and unalterable function ascribed to sex by God’s ordinance and expressed in man’s experience as a law of nature. The Orthodox Church believes that homosexuality should be treated by religion as a sinful failure….In full confidentiality the Orthodox Church cares and provides pastorally for homosexuals in the belief that no sinner who has failed himself and God should be allowed to deteriorate morally and spiritually.”

Note the deliberate use of the words “behavior”, “exercise”, “activity”, “experience”.

Again, he needs to see his priest.

pudlasz December 7, 2010 at 3:38 am

Eastern Orthodox Church considers any homosexual acts as sins but do not homosexualism itself. A homosexual who lives in celibacy do not sin

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