Note: Some spelling/syntactical modifications made for English legibility.
(Greek Reporter) - A fierce conflict between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Moscow, that may lead to a new schism, threatens the forthcoming Orthodox Ecumenical Council.
The reason is the effort of the Russian Church to degrade the primacy of Constantinople in the Orthodox world and to expand in China and Japan.
This expansive strategy has clear political extensions of geopolitical character, with the assistance of president Putin.
Patriarch Bartholomew reacted intensely, sending a letter to the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, and two others, of informative character to Archbishop Ieronymos.
According to the letter to Kirill, the facts that caused the reaction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate are: the suppression of the contribution of the church of Constaninople to the christianization of Kievan Rus, the degradation of the Patriarchate’s delegation, the improper enhancement of the “autocephalous” Orthodox Church in America, and the unannounced presentation of a text that disapproved the violence in the Middle East. This had already happened in 2011, at the Council of high-ranking Bishops of Orthodox Churches of the Middle East, in Phanari.
The interest of the Russian Church for proselytism in China and Japan is not only religious, but also political. The text concerning the violence in Middle East is included in that framework.
It seems that the Tsaric subconscious comes to the surface, connected to the old theory of ”Third Rome” and this, despite being refuted, consists the main target. The opulent grand events contribute to the gold wrapping.
All the above have already caused serious side-effects. Most important of which, is the danger of cancellation of the Orthodox Ecumenical Council.
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"to expand in China and Japan"
ReplyDeleteConstantinople just couldn't accept that the Russians got there first, centuries ago. The issue over OCA is also decades old.
Meanwhile, Bartholomew managed to offend the Athonites with his speech a few days ago attacking Abbot Ephraim of Vatopedi, and Antioch is clearly dissatisfied with Bartholomew's ineffectual handling of the conflict between Antioch and Jerusalem over Qatar.
Oh good grief.
ReplyDeleteJust when it seemed like Constantinople was starting to act reasonably & play nicely with the other Orthodox Churches we get this nifty little tale that's been whipped up in the fantastic bubble that the Phanar insists on living in. When will reality set in for Constantinople?
ReplyDeleteThe EP has not forgotten Moscow's recent behaviour in Western Europe - think of Sourozh, the Cathedrals in Biarritz and Nice, for example.
DeleteFr. Andrew Phillips' Orthodox England Events blog frequently makes the case that the EP is a "church in captivity," specifically under US-led Western political powers, and has been since 1948 when they removed the sitting Patriarch and flew in their own via US jet. For a most recent example of the case he makes, see his post "On the Importance of Sobriety" from September of this year. Originally, the Church was taken over for anti-communist reasons, and today is coerced into being anti-Russian. He does note that the above linked article was poorly written in a more recent post however.
ReplyDeleteI really would give no credibility to the writings on the so-called Orthodox England site. This priest seems to believe that the West will only be saved when a Tsar reappears in Russia. Dream on, Father Andrew.
DeleteWhy don't you be constructive and email your objections to Fr Andrew instead of posting such a crass response here.
DeleteI know, you've gotta get back to more important things, like watching internet pornography and crappy shows like Modern Family..
ReplyDeleteYou want official, see here: http://byztex.blogspot.com/2013/10/another-chapter-in-asian-territorial.html
ReplyDeletehere is a report on the Russian Church and the mid east Christians......
ReplyDeletehttp://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/russia-rusia-medio-oriente-28944/
An interesting implication of all this is that, unlike during the Ottoman period, Russia is becoming the protector of both Orthodox and Catholics in the region, as evidenced by the mostly-Catholic delegation of bishops to Moscow earlier this month, as well as the high probability, given the region its coming from, that a fair proportion of those Syrians seeking Russian nationality are technically Greek Catholic. See also the fallout from the war of words between Greek Catholic patriarch Gregory Laham and bishop Claude Dagens of Angoulême, a member of the Académie Française and a major figure among French bishops- http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2013/09/19/01003-20130919ARTFIG00317-polemique-entre-un-patriache-syrien-et-un-eveque-francais-a-propos-de-la-syrie.php
DeleteExactly.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, how can an Ecumenical Council be cancelled, when it has never been scheduled in the first place?!?!
ReplyDeleteThis patriarch of Constantinople don't do nothing for the conversion of the heretics and don't want to do nothing also for to spread the Orthodoxy around the world and don't want to allow also these who wants to work! Its a shame his antichrist paper...
ReplyDelete