www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Bishop Kallistos Ware

Let us all covenant and pray that the all Holy and life giving Spirit made be poured out afresh on the Church this coming Pentacost and pull down all barriers and walls that divide us.
Come Holy Spirit fall afresh on us! Maranatha Come Lord Jesus!
Stephanos I

Well, if I'm in New York, I'll be able to recognize Alice and Zenovia.

BTW if you are in St. Louis and see a guy who looks like lanceg's Icon of Bl. Theodore Romzha, that's me.

His excellencies views I think it would go a bit too far to say are the views of all the theologians in the church (I happen to like and agree with Bishop Kallistos on just about everything btw). Certainly there are many who would probably disagree with him on one or more topics, either among the theologians, clergy, monastics or just lay people.

Personally, I also don't believe any of the views in the church are hidden, though some may receive more emphasis than others. I suppose it depends on which church you're in to a large extent. We had a good deal of talk about the Papal visit to Constantinople for instance when it took place, and it was featured in our diocesan newsletter. There was also a site dedicated to tracking the visit run by lay people in the Carpatho-Russian diocese. There are many other examples though. The copy of the church messenger I received this week had a cover story about the regular, rotating prayer services Metropolitan Nicholas holds with Bishop Adamec of Altoona.

Dear Gordo,

Yes, I understand that an audio will be available of the talk. It was a long talk, but one that was very interesting as he used many anecdotes and quotes from persons of diversity such as St. John Maximovitch, St. John Chrysostom, and Dostoyevsky. If I remember correctly, our parish board said that it would be selling for $20.00. If you are still interested, I will let you know how you can purchase it.


I guess that is what separates mere mortals from the great saints! I don't think that I have EVER heard him say anything negative about anyone or anything. He is just too filled with the loving spirit of God to feel prideful, arrogant, dismissive, hateful or intolerant towards any fellow Christian and human icon of our Lord. Thank God that we have men such as him and others among us to teach us and inspire us to greater holiness.

Have a blessed and holy remainder of Holy Week,
In Christ,
Alice

The Papacy is certainly the primary issue that needs to be worked out. I think if something could be found acceptable to both sides on that, most everything else would fall in to line. Certainly even this issue in and of itself is a fairly tough nut to crack.

We should also think in the bigger picture of needing unity among all the apostolic churches. Unity among us starts at the personal level, so when Alice said of Bishop Kallistos


I think I would say Bishop Kallistos presents one of the best models unity available as it should be put in practice in our own loves.

Thanks, Alice! That would be great...

And it is nice to put a name and a face together!

A blessed Pasch....

Gordo, whose cross this week is jet lag!

Here is a titular consideration - plus a slightly off-beat comment thereon:

1) a Metropolitan is normally called "His Eminence" in English.

2) in the Christian ordering of things, one would expect that "Grace" would be a higher value than "Eminence"!


Personally, I like to speak languages like French - in which one can call almost anyone "Monseigneur" and not worry about it. On the other hand "Monseigneur" would not make much sense if one were addressing a lady! [I assume that a woman is a lady, unless she behaves in such a fashion as to give conclusive proof that she is not - I seldom encounter such phenomena, thank God.]

Then there is the Middle East, where it is considered proper to address anyone by at least one rank higher than the person whom one is addressing actually holds.

But I'm rambling.

Fr. Serge

Dear Father Serge,

Thanks for that clarification. I think that we have all been confused about that. Initially I used 'Eminence', but then others used 'Excellency', so I changed it, because I thought I was wrong.

So, does this imply (?) that Archbishop and Metropolitan are more or less on the same level? This is all so confusing.

Thank you in advance for enlightening us!

Respectfully,
In Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice,

A small problem arises, because among the Slav Churches a Metropolitan outranks an Archbishop, while the reverse is true among the Greek Churches. How this happened, I don't claim to know.

In both cases, the honorifics are the same in Greek and in Church-Slavonic. A good few years ago I was bemused when attending a service and heard the priest commemorate "our Bishop the Metropolitan X".


Fr. Serge

Exactly.

I will actually retract my statement that the Papacy is the main issue. The main issue is the lack of desire for unity and a lack of willingness to attempt to engage in what could bring it about. That unfortunately is chiefly an issue with our communion IMHO.

Good points, Andrew...(unfortunately)

Wishing you and your family a most blessed Pascha!

Kali Anastasi!
In Christ,
Alice

A blessed and glorious feast of the resurrection to you as well! Have a good Easter.

And you are so young! Zenovia is not as young, but still a striking lady. I imagined you and Zenovia as little gray, Greek ladies with shawls, etc. I guess a picture is worth a thousand words.