August 20, 1999
The Faithful Priests and Deacons
of the Holy Diocese
of Denver
Beloved in the Lord,
As we prepare to begin the new ecclesiastical year, I wish to relate certain matters to you regarding the sacred priesthood you hold by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
A priest or a deacon is a servant of Christ. He holds his priesthood by the grace of God. He is not a "free agent" to do with the priesthood whatever he personally desires. On the Day of Judgment our Lord will receive from him a defense regarding how he used the priesthood. If he has a poor defense, or no defense at all, he will be lost forever.
I say these things to you because one of the prophecies of the latter days is that the clergy will scandalize the faithful. Pious and prophetic monastics have amplified Saint Paul's words to his spiritual son Timothy (2 Timothy 3:5) regarding this truth.
I exhort the priests, therefore, to become more conscientious in serving the spiritual needs of God's people:
a. Because we are living in evil days, a growing number of our people need counseling.
b. The sacrament of Holy Confession must be made available to the people more often and not only during the Great Lenten period.
c. Regular and on-time attendance at all worship services must be a regular reminder for the people to realize that they do not experience their difficulties and problems all alone Ð God is there.
d. Proper abstinence must be required by all members from the age of seven and older before they receive Holy Communion. The last meal eaten must be prior to the midnight hour.
e. In the larger parishes where a priest may not know all the people, the printed bulletin handout for each Sunday must say that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves properly should receive Holy Communion. It should also state that Orthodox Christians who are married in the Church should not encourage their non-Orthodox spouses to receive the Holy Gifts unless they are Chrismated as Orthodox Christians. This, of course, clearly indicates that no one who is not an Orthodox Christian should receive Holy Communion in the Church. It also indicates that Orthodox Christians not married in the Church should not receive the Holy Gifts. By extension, Orthodox Christians co-habiting with another person as if married may not receive the holy sacraments.
These reminders are not to punish members, but to remind them that Holy Communion is like a two-edged sword. As it benefits the believer who is prepared, it can harm the one who receives, not discerning the Body and Blood of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30)
It is unfortunate that some priests in the past in this Diocese wanted to show themselves "the good guy" and gave Holy Communion to anyone and everyone, knowing full well that some persons were not Orthodox Christians, or not married in the Church, or were unprepared to receive the gifts. This created great difficulties for the priest who fears God and does not take such responsibility upon himself.
Our responsibilities as priests will lead us to Heaven or to Hell. Do not jeopardize your salvation just to please certain people in this temporary life who really are not concerned about your eternal condition, as much as they are concerned with personal agendas.
I pray that through these basic reminders your spiritual life is strengthened, so that you may be in a better position to serve the spiritual needs of your people, and continue to grow in the grace of our Lord.
With Paternal Blessings,
+Metropolitan Isaiah
Presiding Hierarch
of
the Diocese of Denver