To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
2 Comments
This presentation is filled with inaccuracies. The entire push for Orthodox Unity in North America began in 1961 with SCOBA. + Iakavos, + Antony and + Ireney pushed for a united, autocephalous Orthodox Church to be established in North America. In the minutes of SCOBA, it states that this NEW church should be called, “The Orthodox Church in America.” Fr. Alexander Schmemann was able to make this a reality in 1970 when the former Metropolia of the ROC was granted autocephalous status. This NEW autocephalous church would form the basis for Orthodox Unity in North America. The Romanians joined the new OCA; the Albanians; the Bulgarians and others. However, the Greeks and Antiochians reneged on their promise for unity. The Episcopal Assemblies under + Bart of Istanbul is a shameful attempt for the Greeks to try and lay claim for unity in North America. It should be pointed out that + Bart has no intention of granting autocephaly to a NEW American Church, but all the Orthodox in North America to ONLY be united under himself. A true sham!
Tony,
You are totally correct, or rather almost totally. The Phanar’s arrogance isn’t “shameful” in itself, it’s simply historical business as usual. Compare Phanar’s invective letter issued after Ligonier I synod, for example, with the one issued in response to Romania’s autonomy in 1866, or all the others. You’re right – we’ve simply got to declare Independence, but it was easier in the ’60s when there were 11 North American bishops, than today with 50+.
In the 60s & all along, Archbishop +Iakovos of blessed memory was open to autocephaly (it was finally his undoing post-Ligonier I), but often when he’d return to New York, he’d be met by picketing ultra-Hellenist extremists. I was Chairman of CEOYLA (remember it?) & saw first-hand how “pan-Orthodox” cooperation was stage-managed, talked to death.
The archives of my Romanian Episcopate-OCA contain +Iakovos’ 1963 letter congratulating then-CEOYLA Chairman Richard Joseph on the wildly successful 1st National Pan-Orthodox Great Vespers in Pittsburgh. Then the Archbishop wrote, “Knowing that your thoughts are in the direction for a united Orthodoxy in America, I must point out to you that * * * your views and thoughts for a future manifestation of such a united Orthodoxy in this country must be submitted and discussed at a special meeting of the Standing Conference, in all its aspects, at least a year before the event, since there are so many problems that must be gone into thoroughly.”
Please check out my presentation to OCL’s 24th Annual Meeting in 2011 about CEOYLA 1963; at minute 27:00 of the video you will see +Iakovos’ letter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2b24IGxkqk
Orthodoxy in America is being starved due to foreign politics. With hierarch inflation up to 50+ today, our hope for Autocephaly is being stymied. Let’s go!