Bulgaria: out; Antioch: out; Serbia: out; MP: maybe out; Georgia and Greece: have issues; Mt. Athos: serious misgivings. That's a lot if churches so who is left? EP, Romania, Jerusalem, Cyprus, Alexandria, Albania, and that's it, right? And they represent what, maybe 1/8 of the total Orthodox faithful?
It seems to me that at this point, the whole thing should be called off. Holding a council is not an end in and of itself and it has become increasingly clear that nothing good will come of this meeting because it will either conclude with no agreement on anything or anything promulgated by it will be tainted by actual or apparent politics. Far from achieving any unity or clarity, this council will likely bring forth confusion and even more division, and now runs the risk of being remembered as the Robber Council of Crete.
Let it be known that byztex.blogspot.com is now "keeping score"; Georgia has pulled the plug, and I wouldn't be surprised if Russia bails as well. The EP, Albanians, and Romanians seem to be the only ones outspokenly committed. Interestingly, had the OCA been invited, I bet the OCA hierarchs would have chosen to go! How ironic for the EP. Alas, God's will be accomplished in all things. Orthodox Christianity--holding together the True Faith with red tape for almost two thousand years.
I have a gut feeling that the whole purpose of the council is just a slugfest between Constantinople and Moscow.
ReplyDeleteThe whole purpose of this meeting is an Orthodox Vatican II. And it won't happen.
ReplyDeleteBulgaria: out; Antioch: out; Serbia: out; MP: maybe out; Georgia and Greece: have issues; Mt. Athos: serious misgivings. That's a lot if churches so who is left? EP, Romania, Jerusalem, Cyprus, Alexandria, Albania, and that's it, right? And they represent what, maybe 1/8 of the total Orthodox faithful?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that at this point, the whole thing should be called off. Holding a council is not an end in and of itself and it has become increasingly clear that nothing good will come of this meeting because it will either conclude with no agreement on anything or anything promulgated by it will be tainted by actual or apparent politics. Far from achieving any unity or clarity, this council will likely bring forth confusion and even more division, and now runs the risk of being remembered as the Robber Council of Crete.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLet it be known that byztex.blogspot.com is now "keeping score"; Georgia has pulled the plug, and I wouldn't be surprised if Russia bails as well. The EP, Albanians, and Romanians seem to be the only ones outspokenly committed. Interestingly, had the OCA been invited, I bet the OCA hierarchs would have chosen to go! How ironic for the EP. Alas, God's will be accomplished in all things. Orthodox Christianity--holding together the True Faith with red tape for almost two thousand years.
ReplyDelete