Does this visit portend ROCOR leaving the Moscow Patriarchate and going under Serbia? I have to wonder. It's a very high level ROCOR delegation: six ROCOR bishops and the chancellor. It's very unusual, to say the least.
ROCOR is supposed to get its Holy Chrism from Moscow. With U.S. sanctions against Russia, that's simply not possible. Serbia consecrates its own Holy Chrism though. I have to wonder if that is at least part of the purpose of this trip. Regardless, I get the impression that ROCOR is in a tight corner.
ROCOR and the GOA are on opposite side of the spectrum. Bishop Ireneij of the Serbians is beholden to the GOA - he is using a GOA church while St. Sava's is being rebuilt. Ireneij was the only non GOA bishop at the St. Bart's service. Would this not be a sticky wicket in the Serbia/ROCOR relationship? The OCA just consecrated its own chrism. ROCOR and the OCA are in communion. Would it not be logical to seek chrism from the OCA? What do the Patriarchal Exarchate parishes do for chrism?
ROCOR may be in communion with the OCA, but they keep the OCA at arms length. I believe much of the problem has to do with the unfortunate "liturgical theology" of Fr. Alexander Schmemann. I've heard that the OCA Archbishop Michael Dahulich says he has 56 parishes that liturgically serve in 56 different ways. All of them probably believe that they serve in the "right" way. That's just the negative legacy of Fr. Alexander Schmemann that Archbishop Michael inherited, and I believe it creates an obstacle for bringing ROCOR together with the OCA.
The origins of ROCOR were actually in Serbia. That's where they first organized after the 1917 revolution. Serbia has never broke communion with them either.
I'm in Abp. Michael's diocese, and can assure you that the services are done as consistently here as they are anywhere. If what you "heard" is correct, I expect Vladyka is just saying "every parish is a bit different," as you can confirm in any branch of Orthodoxy anywhere in the world.
Does this visit portend ROCOR leaving the Moscow Patriarchate and going under Serbia? I have to wonder. It's a very high level ROCOR delegation: six ROCOR bishops and the chancellor. It's very unusual, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteROCOR is supposed to get its Holy Chrism from Moscow. With U.S. sanctions against Russia, that's simply not possible. Serbia consecrates its own Holy Chrism though. I have to wonder if that is at least part of the purpose of this trip. Regardless, I get the impression that ROCOR is in a tight corner.
DeleteROCOR and the GOA are on opposite side of the spectrum. Bishop Ireneij of the Serbians is beholden to the GOA - he is using a GOA church while St. Sava's is being rebuilt. Ireneij was the only non GOA bishop at the St. Bart's service. Would this not be a sticky wicket in the Serbia/ROCOR relationship?
ReplyDeleteThe OCA just consecrated its own chrism. ROCOR and the OCA are in communion. Would it not be logical to seek chrism from the OCA? What do the Patriarchal Exarchate parishes do for chrism?
ROCOR may be in communion with the OCA, but they keep the OCA at arms length. I believe much of the problem has to do with the unfortunate "liturgical theology" of Fr. Alexander Schmemann. I've heard that the OCA Archbishop Michael Dahulich says he has 56 parishes that liturgically serve in 56 different ways. All of them probably believe that they serve in the "right" way. That's just the negative legacy of Fr. Alexander Schmemann that Archbishop Michael inherited, and I believe it creates an obstacle for bringing ROCOR together with the OCA.
ReplyDeleteThe origins of ROCOR were actually in Serbia. That's where they first organized after the 1917 revolution. Serbia has never broke communion with them either.
I'm in Abp. Michael's diocese, and can assure you that the services are done as consistently here as they are anywhere. If what you "heard" is correct, I expect Vladyka is just saying "every parish is a bit different," as you can confirm in any branch of Orthodoxy anywhere in the world.
Delete