The Jerusalem Orthodox Church prays for the unity of Orthodoxy and hopes that it will be possible to resolve the conflict between the Ecumenical and Moscow Patriarchates through dialogue, a representative of the Jerusalem Patriarchate told RIA-Novosti today.
“We always pray for the unity of the Church. We believe that an appropriate solution to this situation will be found through discussion. We are concerned about this and we pray for unity. We want there to be love between the Churches,” the representative said.
He also expressed confident that “Jesus Christ will not abandon the Church, because, as the Gospels say, it is built on a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Jerusalem Churches hopes that it will be possible to solve the Ukraine problem through dialogue with the participation of the Local Churches of the Orthodox Church, the interviewee added.
This aligns with the earlier statement of His Eminence Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia of the Jerusalem Church, who called on the primates of the world’s Orthodox Churches to immediately join in the settlement of the current dispute, which is, according to him, fraught with disaster for the entire Orthodox world.
The same Jerusalem hierarch has also stated that the Jerusalem Patriarchate recognizes Ukraine as the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, an autonomous and self-governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In calling for dialogue between the various Orthodox Churches, the Jerusalem Church echoes the call of not only the Russian Church, but also of the Romanian Synod which met yesterday, and the Antiochian and Georgian Holy Synods. The same call has also been made by the primates of the Polish, Serbian, Antiochian, and Czech and Slovak Churches, and also by a joint Antiochian-Serbian statement.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has consistently criticized the violent actions of the schismatic bodies in Ukraine, calling them “lost.” Conversely, the Ecumenical Patriarchate recently entered into communion with the two bodies of Ukrainian schismatics.
According to Evstraty Zorya, the speaker for the schismatic “Kiev Patriarchate,” who Constantinople now considers a canonical bishop under its jurisdiction, as they have reclaimed Ukraine as their canonical territory, has stated that Constantinople rejects the call for a pan-Orthodox discussion on the matter, but will move ahead unilaterally.
Isn’t the current Jerusalem Patriarch a cousin of the former CIA chief George Tenet?
This is the same Jerusalem Patriarchate which is in conflict with the Antioch Church due to its unilateral appointment of a bishop in Qatar? http://orthochristian.com/70416.html
..and is selling church land at fire sale prices to to the Israeli government?
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/greek-orthodox-church-selling-off-israeli-assets-at-fire-sale-prices-1.5457380
What I find so difficult and precarious in commenting on this subject is that I found out that Orthodox Christianity is so different from Catholics Christendom coming from Rome. Besides the name “Christianity” there does not seem much sameness to be found. From what little I understand the fundamentals are very different and so are the consequences.
At least for me what is clear that getting a schism in any “Christian” religion to align more with the Romisch Catholics is always worth to opt for regardless of consequences. To get a more binary technologically anti-human mindset some religions are best done away with.
Don’t get me wrong I still know next to nothing about Orthodox Christianity besides the Devil is in the details but at least I now understand how important this is and not an unimportant spat of the Religious crowd they seem to do so every now and then.
The gift of broadening one’s horizon is a precious one and for that, I thank you Saker. If it wasn’t for this site I would never have known how different “Christian Religions” are and how important that can be in one’s own worldview.
Bizantura, as an Agnostic of Greek Orthodox and English Protestant parentage, I hold the opposite view: there is only one Church and that is the Body of Christ in the Totality of all Genuine Christians. The one Major schism and multitudinous Minor denominations are mere ethnic variants and / or personal power ploys. I see some essentials of Christ’s teaching in Islam; and I even see some vague remnants of Christian ethic in modern Humanism and in militantly atheistic Communism. Looking backwards from the time of Jesus I also see some roots of Christianity in Buddhism and in Greek ethics ca 500-100 BC. In the Kingdom of God there are many mansions.
Which does not imply that the current Western political power ploy to destabilize the Orthodox Church via subordinated prelates in Turkey (NATZO) and Israel (AZC) is not a serious matter. It is seriously unChristian because it is likely to shed blood in the name of Christ.
Bizantura, I would add to what Dr. Maroudas is saying, that there is one thing which distinguishes Orthodoxy from Roman Catholicism that makes it possible for the ordinary Orthodox Christian to relate to his faith in less conflicted terms when such divisions as these occur between national leaderships – that is that unlike in Catholicism, it is not those leaders who in reality head the church on earth, it is Christ alone.
There have always been such conflicts, once the structure of the church became formalized, but it is very fortunate that the above is the case. Orthodoxy as a theological construct has that direct relationship for its faithful that is striven for in other Christian communities – the relationship that matters is between my soul and God, my soul and Christ, not between me and my bishop.
Practically speaking, the conflict is of course disruptive, but there is no barrier being raised between the Orthodox Christian and God, nor can there be. Christ is the head of the Church, now and forever.
Saker:
As a Western European non-rthodox, I am a bit (or very) ignorant in this matters. I have read and tried to understand a lot about Orthodox Church, but my knowledge is very little up to the date.
After reading your “Empire splits Orthodox Church” piece, and also your peces in Unz Review, what is clear to me is: a) That Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has no legitimacy to do such a move (because he is not such a Pope). b) That the majority of official Orthodox Churches are of have been heavy-backed by secular institutions, so they are not very “canonical” despite they claim that (pretty much as Ukrainian Orthodox Church). c) That in a long term an Orthodox Church cannot be in communion at same time with two opposite churches.
So, my quiestion is: If Constantinople enters in communion with UOC-KP, this will force at mid-term to other Orthodox Churches to “choose” betwen Moscow and Phanar? (giving that Moscow has forbidden to Russian pilgrims to go to Athos, which is under the jurisdiction of Phanar). If majority Orthodox Churches back Moscow position (either openly opposing this move, either claiming that this “Popish” move is not in Orthodox spirit and a synod or council must be called), this will mean that Ukrainian Orthodox Church-KP will be ONLY in communion with Constantinople but not with the Church properly? They could not go to joint councils, seminars and so on, could them?
I have another question. IN an article yu say that the 14 (I think they are 14) “canonical” Chrches are canonical because they “recognize each other themselve”, but that they have been in this position because they were “official” or “State-backed”.. That means that in your opinion are not full-canoncal, that they have not theological legitimacy to oppose another “political move” like this of the Empire behalf Phanar recognizing UOC-KP?
Sorry if my questions appear to be stupid, but as I have said, I am ignorant about this.
Dear Friends,
I am not as knowledgeable as Saker on some of these matters, but just wanted to add a few things that will help the non-Orthodox. Dear Saker, if I speak incorrectly please correct/rebuke me.
As Orthodox Christians we believe we are the Holy, Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church. In a nutshell, we trace our Bishops back to the Holy 12 Apostles of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy 12 Apostles ordained Bishops and those Bishops ordained more Bishops all the way down to the present day.
Our Orthodox Bishops were ordained by the Apostles and kept the faith that was once and for all delivered to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord and Savior is THE HEAD of our Church.
However, throughout the centuries numerous Bishops, Priests and laypeople have fallen away from the Church through error of belief (heresy) or schism, or BOTH. This started from the beginning as the Church is made of fallible human beings that can easily fall into heresy or schism. We are all so weak, and that is why we need to pray daily for the Lord to grant us humility, grace and strength to resist evil.
Even though the word canonical is misused, and Saker wrote a great article on that, but I think all Orthodox Christians will agree that an Orthodox Church only exists with an Orthodox Bishop. No Orthodox Bishop – no Orthodox Church! John Doe can’t just decide that he wants to be a Bishop and go found a Church (this is Protestantism). John Doe must first enter the Church, and then be ordained a Deacon, then Priest, and ultimately a Bishop. An Orthodox Bishop can ONLY be ordained by multiple Bishops.
Now, in order to remain an Orthodox Bishop, Priest or Layperson (Laos actually means People of God) you have to keep “Orthodox (Correct Worship or Right Worship)” beliefs, or you fall into heresy. Numerous examples of this exist in history like Arius, Monophysites or Monothelites. You can also fall into schism from the Church. This happens when you leave the Church and setup another Church. This happened in the Ukraine with former Metropolitan Filaret – he did not accept the fact that he “lost” the election to Patriarch of Russia. Instead of having humility, accepting defeat and remaining Metropolitan of Ukraine he set up his own Church. He went into “schism” from the Church of Russia.
I hope these two cents above help some folks to understand. It is really not that complicated! You either keep the Orthodox Faith, or fall away into heresy or schism.
And the sky turned blood red
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6360453/The-ORANGE-planet-Stunning-NASA-image-ISS-reveals-Earth-rare-airglow.html