His
Eminence Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria and Exarch of Hungary during
the Resurrection Service at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Vienna. (Photo
provided by the Metropolis of Austria)
BOSTON – His Eminence Metropolitan Arsenios of
Austria and Exarch of Hungary was the first hierarch who because of the
prohibition by the authorities of the use of the common spoon in
administering Holy Communion turned to the ancient way, offering
separately the Holy Body and the Holy Blood of Christ, as is the
practice during the Liturgy of St. James to this day.
Metropolitan Arsenios, one of the most learned and respected hierarchs of the Church, was interviewed by The National Herald.
The entire interview follows:
The
National Herald: Your Eminence how is the situation in your Metropolis?
Are there affected people or cases of deaths, including the clergy?
Metropolitan Arsenios: In both Austria and Hungary the
pandemic was kept under control thanks to the governments' timely
measures. Despite the early spread of the virus, the situation improved
quickly, and today the epidemic is in decline. The borders were closed
down, however it was still possible to move around when necessary. There
was no particular issue with patients' hospitalization. We pray for the
repose of the souls of the departed. There was only one case amongst
our parishes in Austria and all our priests are in good health.
TNH: What measures and restrictions have been put in place for the reopening of the churches?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: In our parishes we are respecting all measures of hygiene
against the spread of the disease and we have limited the number of the
faithful present during the Divine Services. We have increased the
number of Divine Liturgies, thus allowing everybody to live their faith
in Christ and to partake of His Body and Blood.
TNH: Should the way of administering Holy Communion be changed?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: The Holy and God-given Sacrament of the Divine Eucharist is
and will always be celebrated flawlessly, according to the canonical and
ecclesiastical orthodox tradition. Any changes can only be decided at a
canonical and synodical level, neither individually nor occasionally.
According
to the Holy Canons, it is only temporarily and for reasons linked to
the Divine `Oikonomia' that the Bishop is able to take the necessary
decisions for the pastoral care of the faithful, adapting them to the
specific circumstances of his province, while always staying in line
with the guidance of our Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The National Herald
Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria officiates at the Service of Epiphany in Vienna.(Photo provided by the Metropolis of Austria)
TNH:
For centuries Holy Communion was offered the same way bishops and
priests take it today. What is your opinion on this matter?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: This tradition of our Church is old but not dead. We still
celebrate ancient liturgies, like that of St James on his feast days,
where we all commune in the same way as the priests. A valid source is
the 32nd Canon of the Penthekte Ecumenical Synod (691/2), which refers
to this liturgy as a liturgical model. In the 12th Century Maistor
Theorianos also refers to it in his Dialogue with Heretics. In his 5th
Mystagogical Catechesis, St Cyril of Jerusalem says: “The faithful puts
his right palm over his left palm...it becomes the throne which will
welcome Christ the King.” The 101st Canon of the same Ecumenical Synod
highlights that those who partake of the undefiled Body and become one
with It through transubstantiation, “receive the Communion of Grace,
without letting any utensils come in the way, even if they are made of
gold…”
TNH: What was your approach regarding Holy Communion during the period in which the measures were in place?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is the source of
Life and Immortality. Those who commune after having prepared themselves
receive remission of sins, hope for eternal life, enlightenment,
strength, healing, and health of soul and body.
Holy Communion can
never become a means for transmitting contagious diseases. For a
thousand years, Holy Communion has been given out with a spoon without
any case of contagion. But if we want Christians in Austria to commune
undisturbed, we need to temporarily follow the ancient way of Holy
Communion, which will not arouse the outside observers.
We are on
good terms with the government and we follow a collaboration protocol.
By deciding to follow this ancient tradition, we respond to the dilemma:
Holy Communion or abstention from It during this period? We avoided
innovation by looking for a solution within our Church's tradition, so
as to not compromise the sanctity of the Sacrament and to not raise any
suspicions, thus also avoiding the risk of creating a precedent with the
authorities. We wanted to clearly state that divine worship is
indissociable from Holy Eucharist and Holy Communion. In Hungary there
was no need for a change in that aspect.
TNH: How many
Parishes do the Metropolis of Austria and the Exarchate of Hungary
count? How many Monasteries? How many Priests do you have?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: In Austria we have one holy monastery, nine parishes and 20
priests. His Eminence Paisios, Auxiliary Bishop of Apamea, is based in
Hungary. There we have seven priests serving in seven parishes and one
Holy Hermitage. The priests serve the pastoral needs in many cities,
thus covering our whole province.
The National Herald
Metropolitan
Arsenios of Austria with the children of his Metropolis and teaching
them the richness of the Orthodox faith. (Photo provided by the
Metropolis of Austria)
TNH: How does the Metropolis sustain itself financially? How do the parishes and priests sustain themselves?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: Our income comes from the contributions of the faithful. Our
parishes are small and financially weak, but have an evangelical
outlook. Laity contributes greatly to the versatile mission of each
parish, which is also a centre for Hellenism and an embracing meeting
place.
The majority of our priests do not receive a salary. Most of them work in parallel to sustain their families and parishes.
TNH: To what extent did the pandemic have an impact on your financial situation?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: These last few months, the crisis and the lockdown did have
an impact on our income, however there is no major problem as of today.
We glorify our Lord for the fact that the faithful contribute to our
mission despite the difficulties. We hope that with the contribution of
all those wishing to help, the construction of the first Orthodox
Monastery in Central Europe dedicated to the Holy Protection of Mother
of God and St Paisios will become a reality. God willing H.A.H
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will soon lay its foundation stone.
TNH:
What are some of the questions about the Orthodox Faith and now about
the coronavirus that the faithful and especially the youth are asking?
Metropolitan
Arsenios: All people who approach us have a thirst for Christ's words.
Humbly we ask for divine enlightenment, so that our words and our
actions reflect “the will of God”, thus opening doors to a steadfast
faith, to the cleansing of mind, soul and heart through confession, to a
pure life on earth, and to the hope of the inheritance of the Kingdom
of God, starting with the love of one's “neighbor.” Our youth is very
interested in the observance of the traditions, the `typikon' and the
art of chanting. Our dialogue with the faithful continues through
discussion groups in Greek and German through our online channel. We
thank our Lord for this new blessed method of communication as well as
for all His other daily blessings. One of these is also today's
communication with you and through you with all our brethren in America,
led in a God-pleasing way by their worthy Archbishop, His Eminence
Elpidophoros. We pray that God forgives our mistakes and protects all
Christians worldwide, making them the “salt of the Earth” according to
His will. May He keep the whole world safe!