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...
I like this guy! Fr. Theodoros seems like a grounded straight shooter, and he is right too! 40 to 50 years of preparation for a council is unprecedented in the history of the Church.
ReplyDeleteIn times past a council was called when circumstances necessitated one, and ALL bishops were invited & participated. They fasted, prayed, worshiped, argued (punched each other in the face on one occasion) & with the grace of the Holy Spirit made decisions on the spot via the process of voting. If their decisions were motivated by other sprits then afterwards the Church as a whole body, not just the heads, rejected their decisions, and it went down in history as a robber or bogus council.
I know that in the past the emperor convened the councils, but its hard to believe that this process is what is required in the absence of an emperor. It just seems far too secular / modern to me.