I was happy to see this story in that it points to the actual primary stumbling block to these efforts. The Orthodox, in talking to Rome, have to have a unified hierarchical understanding before they can speak with any clarity on reunion. The Russian Orthodox church is large and is rebuilding from the days of Soviet collusion and oppression. A return to the pentarchy would leave Moscow out, which would be hard for them to swallow. Add in a healthy level of disagreement with Constantinople on a variety of issues and you see a good part of the problem.
It is also worth noting that many commentators and Catholic officials are repeating the same thing in summary, "This is becoming less and less an issue of religion as we go on and more an issue of politics."
Moscow, Dec. 19, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II believes that the world's Orthodox leaders should settle their internal disputes before proceeding with ecumenical talks with the Catholic Church, the Interfax news agency reports.
During a meeting in Moscow with the Czech Orthodox Metropolitan Christopher, Patriarch Alexei expressed concern that the last two meetings of a joint Catholic-Orthodox theological commission have been marred by disagreements among the Orthodox representatives.
This year, Russian Orthodox officials walked out of the joint commission meeting in Ravenna, Italy, in a protest over the seating of a delegation from the Estonian Orthodox Church. The Moscow patriarchate does not recognize the Estonian Orthodox Church.
"We think such issues ought to be settled in dialogue [among Orthodox leaders] and not discussed in the presences of the Catholics," Patriarch Alexei said.
The walkout in Ravenna marked the second consecutive time that the Russian Orthodox delegation has sparked a dispute at a meeting of the joint Catholic-Orthodox commission. During the last previous meeting, the Russian delegates protested a statement which, they argued, implied that the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople held a position analogous to that of the Roman Pontiff, as the acknowledged leader of the Orthodox world.
In the Ravenna meeting, the Russian Orthodox delegates were again challenging the authority of the Patriarch of Constantinople, since it was the Ecumenical Patriarch who had recognized the canonical independence of the Estonian Orthodox Church.
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A "return to the Pentarchy"?
ReplyDeletethe pentarchy was never a practical working reality. It was a creation of man indisputably, having no foundation in scripture or tradition. It is no more mandated than the college of cardinals or national patriarchates.
Recognizned in 451 at the Council of Chalcedon, the sees that were included are:
* Patriarch of Rome
* Patriarch of Constantinople
* Patriarch of Alexandria
* Patriarch of Antioch
* Patriarch of Jerusalem
But here is the deal, WHO decides WHICH claimant to an ancient patriarchal see is a Pentarch? Who determines which party is the legitimate claimant of a patriarchal (pentarchal) see?
Long before the Latins created a “Latin Patriarch of Constantinople” (now abolished) or a “Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria” or the “Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem,” the pro-Chalcedonian bishops of the Hellenic colonies in, Antioch, and Alexandria, had taken patriarchal dignities for themselves. No ecumenical council had confirmed this. Today, in the 21st century, the Greek Orthodox Alexandrian Patriarchate is enjoying an all-time high of adherents at around 300,000. The Coptic patriarch counts some 6M+ souls. Both claim to be rightful heirs of the Patriarchal See of Alexandria, the throne of St. Mark. In Jersualem there are at least FOUR patriarchs today claiming the see: Armenian, Greek & Latin! (The deposed Greek patriarch still claims he is the rightful patriarch so there are two claimants today to this Greek see.)
By the time of the Pentarchy’s creation, the Assyrian Church of the East in the Persian Empire and the Oriental Orthodox (Copts & Syrians) were out the door. The Pentarchy, like the College of Cardinals, was a creation of the church, not something handed down by Christ Himself.
Nor did I ever say it was. This is the system that was established and the lexicon of the discussion. For the purposes of their dialogue this is the phraseology they utilize.
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to imply you said it was... Just making a random thought.
ReplyDeleteAnd a good one! :) Have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete