Thursday, July 2, 2015

Antioch breaks communion with Jerusalem over Qatar

I have been posting on this Qatar issue for many months now with the last update being here. As far back as 2013 Antioch has been warning the Orthodox world that this would happen. Below is a machine translation of the French (PDF) from the Antiochian Synod.


(Orthodoxie) - Resolution no. 5-3 / 2015

Considering that since the violation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem geographical boundaries of the Patriarchate of Antioch and the creation of a diocese in Qatar entrusted to an archbishop ', the Church of Antioch tried to find a solution in a spirit peace and on a basis of cooperation and coordination between the Orthodox sister Churches, in order to reach a solution that could put an end to the violation of its rights, to ensure the sustainability of pastoral work in progress in Qatar and avoid 'undermine the unity of Orthodoxy;

Since the Church of Antioch used, since this violation and to this day, all the irenic means, including mediation undertaken by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other sister Churches and by the Greek Government, without reaching a solution to the problem;

Since the Patriarchate of Jerusalem recently steals the agreement in the presence of delegates from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and promises made primates of Churches sisters who offered their good offices;

As the Patriarchate told persists in the violation of our rights and in its claim to have itself rights to canonically dependent regions of the Patriarchate of Antioch, and refuses any attempt to dispute resolution;

In WITNESS WHEREOF,

Since all conciliation initiatives have stalled, And all those who have undertaken these initiatives have recognized the inalienable and full right of Patriarchate of Antioch on 'Saudi', including all countries of the Arabian Gulf, The Fathers of the Holy Synod took the following resolution:
  1. The rupture of ecclesiastical communion with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and until further notice.
  2. The assertion that any resolution of the dispute must be based on the agreement reached in Athens in June 2013.
  3. The insistence of the Church of Antioch on the principle of unanimity in all Pan-Orthodox meetings, both as regards the presence of all the Orthodox Churches sisters decisions.
  4. The provisions of this Resolution shall apply from that day and it is not possible at all Antiochian clergy to participate in any liturgical service chaired by clerics of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, or to which it ceux- participate.

3 comments:

  1. This is distressing. Especially after the JP screamed bloody murder over the Romanian Church's incursion into their territory.

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  2. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Look, your house is left to you desolate."

    Sorry if I'm being a bit dramatic. But my frustration at the leaders responsible for this situation is starting to boil over.

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  3. This was unfortunately predictable. I have a lot of respect for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, but I can't seem to understand their rationale on this move.

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