Proposal out to hold Pan-Orthodox Council in Geneva instead of Istanbul / Православие.Ru

Istanbul, January 9, 2016

According to the Romfea agency, Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople says that there can be no justification for nonparticipation by any Local Orthodox Churches in the coming Pan-Orthodox Council.

Romfea has also reported the Council’s previously planned venue of Istanbul, may be changed because representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church will probably not be able to come to Phanar after the Russian government recommended Russian citizens to refrain from going to Turkey due to the strain in relations between the Russian Federation and Turkey, reports Pravlife.org with reference to Sedmitza.ru.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece, primate of the Church of Greece, will not be able to participate at the Council because he is currently at variance with primate of the Church of Constantinople Bartholomew I.

There are also problems with participation by representatives of the Orthodox Church of Antioch in the Council inasmuch as Eucharistic communion between the Patriarchate of Antioch and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was broken off due to the problem of Qatar. The Jerusalem Patriarchate has opened a church in Qatar, which traditionally falls under the canonical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch. After Jerusalem did not responded to Antioch’s requests to remedy the situation, Antioch broke off communion with Jerusalem.

Комментарии

Ted14 января 2016, 08:00

As a Greek Orthodox myself with a great deal of reverence for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the City of Constantinople (Constantine Paleologos is a great hero of mine and I have his Icon hanging in my house) I believe this Council should not be held under the present circumstances. Although I am Greek, I firmly believe Moscow is the Third Rome. Russia is the largest Orthodox country and for centuries has been protecting Eastern Christians. Russia is the only great power that cares for Christians in the East and Moscow should be praised for seeking to defend the Christians of Syria. The Church of Constantinople is First Among Equals with primacy of honor. No one disputes this. The accusation that the Russians are trying to take over is a western tactic aimed at dividing the Greeks from the Russians. Read the books "The Orthodox Church and Independent Greece 1821-1852" by Charles Frazee and "Orthodoxy and the West" by Christos Yannaras to see how the West has undermined the independence of Greece by attempting to destroy Greek-Russian relations. Many heroes of the Greek War of Independence such as Theodoros Kolokotronis who was the leader of the Pro Russian Party in Greece were imprisoned by the German King that was installed in Greece by the Western powers. The Orthodox need brotherhood and unity under the leadership of Russia which is defending Christianity from genocide in the Middle East. Ted

RAC14 января 2016, 07:00

These are our leaders. They fight like children. Kyrie eleison...

Abbot Michael13 января 2016, 20:00

If such a council is to be held, it should be put off until say 2020. The laity and ordinary clergy should be shown the agenda and be able to voice their thoughts to their own hierarchs. The council should also include all ruling archbishops, not limited to an artificial equality of numbers. Lastly it should be held therefore in a venue which can handle the numbers and these days that should be London probably. Certainly not Constantinople or Moscow or Athens or Jerusalem.

Sultana Frazis (a dependent of Constantine Paleologos)12 января 2016, 17:00

As As a devout Greek Orthodox Christian I can appreciate Russia's feelings towards Turkey but, this should not be used as a ploy towards the whole Ecumenical Patriarchate because they may want to take over the reigns of the Faith. They should remember who brought them their faith and alphabet. Further, by doing this they and who ever else choose to follow this mind set are doing the work of the evil one to destroy and divide the faith, which has been tested since before the 1st. Crusades whose purpose was to destroy the Eastern Church, land, money and power. Show Turkey the love, unity, strength, glory of our true faith and step on the human weakness for the desire of power and being first. Protect the Mother Church!