EP calls different Paschal dates a "scandal"
( Orthodox Times ) - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew extended in his homily his heartfelt wishes to all the non-Orthodox Christians who celebrated the Holy Easter on Sunday, March 31, after presiding over the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Theodore of the Community of Vlanga. “On this day, the timeless message of the Resurrection resonates more profoundly than ever, as our non-Orthodox Christian brethren and sisters commemorate the resurrection of our Lord from the dead, celebrating Holy Easter. We have already sent our representatives to all the Christian Communities of the confessions here, to extend our heartfelt wishes of the Holy Great Church of Christ and our Patriarchal congratulations. But also from this position we extend a heartfelt greeting of love to all Christians around the world who celebrate Holy Easter today. We beseech the Lord of Glory that the forthcoming Easter celebration next year will not merely be a fortuitous occurrence, but rather the beginning...
Metropolitan Kallistos spent years in "ecumenical conversations" with the Anglicans and of course it all got nowhere. The same thing, unfortunately, will happen with these conversations with the Roman Catholics.
ReplyDeleteThere is a war going on right now for the soul of the Roman Church. The liberals at the synod met a pretty shocking defeat even though they tried to stack it their favor.
DeleteThe "Uniate" Patriarchs provided a much-needed voice of reason.
Triggstar,
ReplyDeleteIf you think that all non-Orthodox Christian groups are equally "unlike" the Orthodox, you don't know Christian history very well.
One of the most silly things I've seen in modern Orthodox apologetics is this idea that Catholics are like Protestants are like Arians are like Gnostics etc... I call it "the equivalence of all heresies and schisms" theory.
That idea is wrong and has no precedent in Orthodox Catholic history or canon law.
I will be fair and point out that the Church of Rome had a similar attitude from the Counter-Reformation to the 20th Century (with some theologians saying one could could not even participate in "schismatic" Orthodox rituals... which means I would be in deep trouble). The "second class citizen" treatment of the Eastern Christians in communion with Rome was symptomatic of this arrogant triumphalism. It is saddening to watch many Byzantine Orthodox repeat the mistakes of Rome.
DeleteWith Byzantine Orthodox, Assyrians, Orientals we recognize all their sacraments as valid and the only thing barring us from taking their sacraments is the permission of those churches' pastors (with some churches having different policies than others).
"So that one day the Orthodox will find themselves to be fully catholic, united to a Roman church that is once again authentically orthodox" - Geoffrey Hull
As a former Roman Catholic, now Orthodox, I think Khomiakov was right when he said that all Western Christians are two sides of the same coin. Recall, if you please, that while Orthodox get on very well on a personal level with Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict, the same could not be said for relations with Pope John Paul II. The same Metropolitan Kallistos had to beg Pope John Paul not to declare Mary "Mediatrix of All Grace". I think we need to be very cautious and realistic in our assessment of what might be achieved in relations with the Vatican. That is all.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Anglicans, I think there is a sense of shock and dismay at how the Anglicans moved away from any possibility of rapprochement with the Orthodox (ordination of women priests and bishops, gay marriage, etc.) at the very same time that there had been apparently promising discussions with the Orthodox. Orthodox might be justified in feeling that "ecumenical" conversation, while a pleasantry among friends, will never achieve anything and might end up damaging the integrity of the Orthodox Faith.