(Orthodox Times) - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a message in every direction on the occasion of the feast of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
The Ecumenical Patriarch presided over the Divine Liturgy in the basilica of St. Nicholas, where the tomb of the Saint was located, in Myra (Demre), Lycia. The Ecumenical Patriarch presided over the service along with Metropolitans Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Apostolos of Derkoi, Arkalochori, Andreas of Kastelli and Viannos and Job of Pisidia, and Bishop Ambrosios of Evdokiada. The local Shepherd, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, presided over the Orthros (matins).
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said that “what we consider as the East, which is the magnificent work of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Andrew the First-Called, John the Theologian, is actually the historical way and place of education in the time of the Church.
The East is not just the birthplace of great saints but also the cradle of the Church in its present form. Our theology and ecclesiology originated in these sacred lands, within the canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It was here that the Ecumenical Synods convened, shaping the ecclesiastical conscience rooted in the ministry of the Lord, transcending national or other distinctions. The wisdom of the Holy Fathers established the pentarchy and its hierarchical order, defining boundaries, principles, and values with profound insight, considering the history and sanctity of each region.
Hence, from Asia Minor, we proclaim in every direction that the genuine and only Mother Church is the Great Church of Constantinople. It exclusively bears the legacy of Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross for all humanity, giving birth to numerous Churches from Bulgaria to Ukraine. This declaration isn’t a modern invention in ecclesiology but an experiential truth and legacy inherited from the Fathers of the Ecumenical and Local Synods.
It is not just a theoretical assertion but a continuous, blessed act of the Church that bestows upon Constantinople the privilege of the Crucifixion’s sacrifice, the path of sacrifice, and the position as the Head of all Churches. It consistently bears the crown of thorns symbolizing the Despotic Passion.
As the humble successors, by the grace of God, to these traditions, we vow to safeguard this sacred trust. We refuse to relinquish the sacred duty and responsibility entrusted to us.
We do not relinquish the mantle of the Mother of the Great Church, a role passed down to us in blood, and we are committed to passing it on unscathed and unaltered. For 32 years, and into the future, we embrace this task joyously, in service to the Most Holy Theotokos.
We do not step down from the Cross to which the Church of Constantinople has devoted itself. We remain dedicated to our calling, honoring our history and the wisdom of the Fathers.
We’ve learned how to lead all peoples, races, and languages to the Resurrection through the Cross. We are willing to endure crucifixion and unite with Christ until the end of time, for the world’s sake. Thus, we stand firm, all of us, in reverent awe before the judgment seat of God!”
Then, speaking in Turkish, the Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, noting that they deeply affect all humanity.
“Today, we came here, to the Church of St. Nicholas, to pray for peace once again. We prayed for the wars to end as soon as possible, but also for the suffering in both regions of Ukraine and the Middle East. Mothers should no longer cry, children should not be afraid, young people should not die early. We hope that lasting peace will prevail as soon as possible to our neighboring countries, with which we share the same sea, the Mediterranean.”
Monday, December 11, 2023
EP declares that it "exclusively bears the legacy of Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross for all humanity."
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"It exclusively bears the legacy of Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross for all humanity"
ReplyDeleteThis is not only false, it's bordering on heresy. The EP is starting to act like Rome, except on a much more minuscule/meaningless scale. Me thinks Napoleon Syndrome abounds much.
"Never get high on your own supply" needs to be the motto for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
It's high time the Church as a whole gets together and condemns this, or, we will be facing 1054 part 2.0
Delusional.
ReplyDeleteDude has lost his mind.
ReplyDeleteANAXIOS!
ReplyDeleteHe really is batting a thousand. Who would have thought that Istanbul was located in the Twilight Zone?
ReplyDeleteThe Twilight Zone is the ostensible "Second Rome" purported at the Vatican and also the "Third Rome" that has been asserted by Moscow for approximately the last five centuries.
DeletePope Leo III and Charlemagne created the "Second Rome", aka the so-called "Holy Roman Empire", on Christmas of the year 800.
The Muscovite "Third Rome" idea originated with Tsar Ivan III, who in 1467 told St. Patriarch Dionysius I of Constantinople to take a hike, refusing to have the Metropolitan of Moscow submit to the Orthodox Metropolitan of Kiev.
There's your Twilight Zone.
A book written in Greek, that only Greeks will read. The Ecumenical Patriarchate's website is only in Greek. Every other autocephalous Church that has a diaspora and/or multi-ethnic flock has an English version of their website (including Bulgaria and Georgia).
ReplyDeleteI am part of an EP jurisdiction, and I find what is happening at the Patriarchate sad and tragic. Their tone has become more defensive and shrill, as its position in Turkey becomes increasingly precarious (due to Turkey moving away from the West----there are even voices openly calling for Turkey's expulsion from NATO) and a Russian victory in Ukraine looks more likely by the day. HAH Bartholomew, who is the longest reigning EP in history, and who had such a hopeful beginning when he was elected, is now reduced to this. Nobody outside of the Greek world listens to him (and even among the Greeks there are naysayers). Academic papers nobody reads. Statements that people ignore.
Even if he were to call a Council today, most of the Churches would probably refuse to come.
"It is not just a theoretical assertion but a continuous, blessed act of the Church that bestows upon Constantinople the privilege of the Crucifixion’s sacrifice, the path of sacrifice, and the position as the Head of all Churches...."
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this is not the more significant assertion of ecclesiology, a theological justification for the word "exclusively" in the previous couple of sentences, assuming the word/context comes over to english from the greek as it seems.
Exclusively, meaning that Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Baptists, do not bear the legacy of the Orthodox Church, even though those other confessions may bear witness to it. This is not a new thing being said.
DeleteThe more I read from Bart the more I think he's got a youtube channel and lives in his parent's basement.
ReplyDeleteOh snap 😂😂
DeleteThe Ecumenical Patriarchate has lost credibility among the non-Greek Churches (and even some Greeks grumble in private). That is the sad reality. They ignore him, and even push back belligerently (as Bulgaria did when Metropolitan Emmanuel visited). That is why HAH keeps going on and on like he has about the EP's "privileges," because nobody outside of the Greek world accepts them. They will never accept them.
ReplyDeleteThe words of the ignoble archeologist Belloq ring true here for the Patriarchate: "You chose the wrong friends, and this time it will cost you." The Ecumenical Patriarchate's collusion with America in its geopolitical "containment" attempt of Russia is blowing up in everyone's face. The UOC retains moral and spiritual authority in Ukraine, despite all attempts to usurp/destroy it. In the end, the recognition of the UOC's autocephaly (which is inevitable and a likely outcome of the post-war peace deal) by all of the non-Greek Churches will be the final blow, and force "a showdown" over these supposed privileges. HAH can't hold the conciliar process hostage because he can't get his way. At the end of the day, like Ukraine, they will lose so much more then they would have if they had just placated the Russian Bear, which was going to happen eventually anyway. America "doesn't have that kind of muscle" anymore, and the rest of the world is waking up to this. The disintegration of the Pax Americana is THE geopolitical event of the early 21st Century.
I could not have said it better, David B. As someone who is also under the EP this is exactly how I view them.
DeleteI'll be deciding here in the next couple of months whether or not I'll be switching to a different parish under a different jurisdiction. I'm sure you have also seen where GOARCH has lost over 70% of it's laity in the last decade or so. Looks like that trend will not be slowing down.