Hellenism and the Unfinished Revolution

Hellenism and the Unfinished Revolution

Apostolos Makrakis was a brilliant and controversial Greek Christian philosopher of the mid-nineteenth century, most noteworthy for his zealous efforts toward restoring frequent communion, protesting against the corruption of simony and fighting against the intrusion of western philosophies into Greek society.  Makrakis was something of a paradoxical figure, arguing for Orthodox Tradition but creating an innovative philosophical system, eloquently presenting the goal of life as deification(theosis) but also succumbing at times to a dry legalism, exhorting a spiritual life rooted in asceticism, liturgy and prayer while also extolling the value of human reason. Such paradoxes may be more apparent than real but he remains unread and dismissed not only by westernizers but also by Greek Orthodox theologians and monastic figures.  Accusations of heresy levelled against him typically amount to the parroting of misconceptions. He deserves to be revisited by scholars. 

This excerpt wherein Makrakis urges the Greeks of his day to return to their traditional faith as the guiding principle of the new Greek state is still powerfully relevant.  I thought it would be inspirational and reorienting as we celebrate Greek Independence Day and reflect on the state of affairs in contemporary Greece.

from a series of lectures delivered in 1866 by A. Makrakis entitled The Unfinished Revolution:

Without Christ, the King, there is no equitable and just state, but rather Roman jurisprudence, egoism, tyranny and anarchy.  Without Christ, the Guide and Master, there is no truth and true philosophy, but rather skepticism or feigned wisdom. Now, without a holy religion[Orthodoxy], the equitable state, and the true philosophy, there is no Greek polis and fatherland, but rather a perverse and shameful Babylon. Without the Greek polis and fatherland, it is obvious that there are no Greeks either, but rather, barbarous people and wild beasts. 

Virtue consists of loving Christ as much as Christ loves us. Did Christ die for our salvation and glory? We too must scorn death and pain for the honor and glory  of Christ…For us, love of country is nothing else but love for Christ and for those who are Christ’s. p.30

…It is only with such prudence and such virtue that the task of 1821 can be completed in the quickest and the best manner; otherwise, it will not be completed at all…     p.31

The present address comes to prove that the Greek nation was called by God to bear the Truth before nations and kings and the sons of Israel; to strengthen and fortify the claim of Truth; and to extend it throughout the earth.   p.47

Since the time of Christ, 1,866 years [This lecture was delivered in the year 1866.] have been recorded to this day. Inquire of history: what has the Greek nation been doing during this time, and for what has it been laboring? It has been doing nothing else but bearing the Truth and being engaged in the task to which God has called it. The Greek nation has allowed neither the anti-Christ Mohammed to replace the truth with the blasphemous Koran, nor the pseudo-Christ Pope to overthrow it with hypocrisy and deceit, nor the many devised heresies to adulterate the Truth through a distortion of Scriptures; nor the atheistic academicians to refute the Truth with sophistry. The Truth fights against all foes, and proves itself more powerful than all of them, for the Truth is great and prevails over all. The righteous demand of the Truth can never be vanquished, nor can that nation be obliterated which battles “For the holy faith of Christ, For the freedom of the fatherland!”     p.48

The Eastern Question [the loss of Asia Minor and Constantinople to the Turks] cannot be resolved either in a Russian, or English, or French, or diplomatic, or Masonic manner.

The saints, i.e. the Orthodox people of the Lord, must have patience and faith - patience until the time of the rule of the beast passes away; faith in the truth and justice of God.   p.69

Behold! O great intellectuals, 

…learn that our Fathers, as a people of God, could not belie God’s prophecies and escape the capture and enslavement [by the Islamic Turks] foretold by Daniel. It is to what you consider as the futile writings of our Fathers, to their prayers, to the monasteries and the monks that we owe our existence and salvation. And the glory which our God has reserved for us cannot be compared with our sufferings. The Lord humbled us in order that we may learn His just claims upon us, and in order that He may exalt us; and you shall see our glory.  p.82

…the barbarians cannot be driven out of our paternal inheritance [Constantinople and Asia Minor] before man’s thorough knowledge of Christ becomes a universal fact….The struggle of 1821 began in the name of Christ, and it cannot be consummated except through Christ…

There is nothing improper about speaking concerning Christ from this political rostrum, for Christ is the guiding principle of religion, of government and of philosophy. Thus, one should speak of Christ not only in churches, but also in the city squares, in the schools, homes, and everywhere.  For, as the prophet states, His virtue covered the heavens and the whole earth is filled with His praise.  p.101

…we must ask to what degree the harlot’s cup has influenced our own affairs in Greece, for which reason they are faring badly until now.

Whoever became inebriated from the cup of false philosophy introduced to the minds of our credulous young people atheism and evil mindedness. Whoever became drunk from the cup of the political doctrines of self-interest and thereafter assumed an active role in our political life corrupted both their own and their disciples’ conscience. These are the people who have become the terrible corruptors of the Greek people, having rejected every correct idea of what is just and lawful.  

Thenceforth, small Greece has become a kind of miniature Babylon, an abortive child of the Western Babylon whose type and character it bears. Greece has become a scene of factions fighting unceasingly to take over power and despoil the treasury. It has become an arena of wicked passions and nest of the unclean spirit which clouds men’s minds and unawares leads man into the pit of corruption.  

…since our leaders are completely wanting in noble and prudent living and are as avaricious as they are senseless, thinking that their personal interest lies in the public treasury, this is why our state of affairs has reached the point of wretchedness in which we see it today.     p.145

It is impossible for this situation to be rectified unless we acquire wise leaders who carry out their public duties for the sake of Christ and not for gold[money].  Only they who exercise leadership according to Christ can lead well and beneficially, for they alone are free from egoism and carry out their duties properly, while looking forward to the Kingdom of heaven. But as long as we have at our head persons intoxicated from the cup of the harlot, we can never follow the way that leads us to the holy polis.  p.145

The above excerpts are from Hellenism and the Unfinished Revolution, a series of lectures delivered by the philosopher Apostolos Makrakis in Concord Square, Athens in 1866, translated and published in English by the Orthodox Christian Educational Society, Chicago  1956