www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News ROCOR priest proposes World Orthodox Council in Russia

L'viv would work for a Ukrainian Catholic Council. For Orthodox... not so much

Dear Borislav,

I read all the posts, but one thing seems to be missing. Do all the Orthodox want a council? A council which will be dominated by the bishops in the Russian Church and Eastern Europe? I think not!

If I recall correctly, that's what I was told by a member of one of our American jurisdictions. Then again, if a council was to take place, shouldn't our only true patriarch, Bartolomew, (oops!, I shouldn't have said that ), be the one to hold it? Now that in itself, should give you an idea of the problems.

If I recall correctly, our Patriarchs have been saying that in two years there will be a world council of Orthodox for the past 40 plus years. Funny how the number two is used so readily when something will not take place...(it will happen in two days, two weeks, two monthes, two years).

Of course with our Lord everything is possible.

God Bless,

Zenovia

Zenovia,

I am not sure I understand what you are saying? Only true patriarch? Do you mean that the patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, etc. are not patriarchs?

Also, I agree with those Orthodox theologians who see the office of Patriarch as not being divinely founded by Christ, but rather as a later development in the Church, decided by the canons of the Council for the purpose of efficiently administering the imperial Church. The only truly apostolic office the patriarch has is that of Bishop. In principle, the patriarchates can be changed again by an Ecumenical council or additional patriarchates can be added.

I personally see nothing wrong with a pan-Orthodox synod hosted in Russia and with the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow presiding together.

Joe

And I'll just add that if the Bishops decided in a synod that all Orthodox jurisdictions should go back to the proper Old calendar, then I would support that as well.

Joe

Likewise! Fr. Serge

Is a council even possible without the Pope of Rome in attendance or at least sanctioning it?
Stephanos I

Dear Joe,

Sorry about that! I meant the only one of the original Patriarchates in Europe other than Rome. Basically, I was merely expressing the past concerns of many within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

The other concern that I mentioned, is that the council will be dominated by Russian and Eastern European bishops. Again, I'm expressing the past concerns of many within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Things today might have changed though. I'm not that much in the know.

I'm very confused about that. If the old calendar is faulty, and not accurate in measuring the days of the year, then why would one want to hold on to it? Is it because those that wished to correct the error were members of the Western Church? Why hold on to something merely to emphasize your opposition to something else?

Confused! Confused! Confused! Please someone clarify.

God Bless,

Zenovia

Zenovia,

I hear what you are saying. On the other hand, the clear majority of Orthodox are in slavonic Churches, and so it is not like it would be a small minority Church imposes its will on everyone. If the Moscow Patriarch serves the greatest number of Orthodox, then there is a sense in which the views of Moscow should be considered quite important.

Joe

Dear Zenovia,

There is an extensive literature on the question of the Church Calendar, but until recently little or nothing was available in English except the vews of the opponents of the Church Calendar. Now, however, there is a small but good book from the Orthodox printing house in Etna, California, and there are other English studies in print which consider the matter objectively. You might wish to read some of this material, if only to understand what motivates the ongoing rejection of the New Calendar by a majority of Orthodox (and a majority of Greek-Catholics).

A belated Happy Pentecost to you!

Fr. Serge