All too human
God only knows whether Apostolos Vavilis, the fugitive drug dealer, is lying. God also only knows whether those posing as his representatives on earth, who seem to have good reason to lie despite the will of the commandments, are doing so too. Vavilis’s confessions, as well as the sermons by the archbishop, the patriarch in Jerusalem, the Greek bishops (and the words of the clerics who parade on television) all converge in one thing: the «higher national goal» of keeping the Greek flag flying in Jerusalem (and Alexandria) and safeguarding national interests. Hence the «national mission» undertaken by Vavilis, in the name of which he went as far as spreading slanderous material against the rival candidate for the patriarchate’s helm. Many a bad thing has been done in the name of the national interest, which always happens to coincide with people’s all-too-human personal interests. In seeking to promote the good of the nation – which is identified with the interests of individuals, parties, fringe Church organizations or groups of conspirators – lies are given as truth, the lust for money as a selfless effort, opportunism as a vocation, love of power as humility, violence as pacifism, the trade in consciences (or votes) as a benign act. Metaphysical ambitions become uncomfortably material. Yet a disturbing question lingers: Why should the Church or the State’s campaign to back a specific patriarch be a national goal? And in what context is keeping the Greek flag flying above the patriarchates outside Greece seen as a national priority? Is it a question of diplomacy, politics, religious factionalism or a global power play? Surely this is hardly a religious issue. If we go by the scriptures, Christianity is ecumenical, not national, in nature. God does not care which flag flies over the patriarchate. Yet the scriptures have been reduced to a mere pretext – just as the national interest has.
