A Romanian Christmas Carol

What's wrong with this picture?

Hat tip to Ken over at Hallowed Ground.

Yes. That's an Orthodox bishop in a Romanian Orthodox Church.

For the record, I have a rather high opinion of the late Pope. I am not unaware that he is widely regarded as a saint within the Roman Church. He may well be a saint. I don't decide those things. But I do know one thing. Neither he nor George H. W. Bush (a true gentleman and a better than average president), nor Mikhail Gorbachev were or are Orthodox. Two of the three depicted in iconography are still alive and one is I believe an avowed atheist!

I am sorry if this is seen as lacking in the appropriate ecumenical spirit. I really don't dislike any of the men depicted. But commemorating in a church, and in iconography, non-Orthodox persons is a no-no. The priest apparently felt that these men deserved to be commemorated for their contributions in bringing down Communism. Again this is without doubt worthy of honor. But that doesn't make you an Orthodox saint. This is frankly more than a little scandalous. I wonder if the bishop is the same fellow who recently got in trouble for communing at a uniate Mass?

Update: See the comments for Fr. Andrew's explanation of this.

Orthodox Bishop Communes with Catholics

Apparently Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Church has been communed by Catholics. Needless to say this is creating some waves. I personally am concerned about this and hope that some sort of explanation is requested from the Holy Synod. However, I also think people should be cautious in reading too much into this. As far as I can tell this was a violation of church discipline from both an Orthodox perspective and the Catholic as well. I am content to wait and see what his explanation is.

Hat tip to Eirenikon.

Many Years!

To Met. +Daniel Ciubotea of Moldava who has been elected to be the sixth Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. +Daniel is widely seen as a member of the progressive (a relative term in Orthodoxy) wing of the hierarchy. He is an academic with a strong background in theology and has been the leading representative of the Romanian Church in ecumenical discussions with other religious confessions, notably the Roman Catholic Church. Some observers are opining that his election represents a defeat for the "old guard." The Romanian Orthodox Church is the worlds second largest Orthodox jurisdiction with about 20 million members (after the Russian Church with over 100 million).

Read the story here

And a Roman Catholic perspective here.