Source: Pravmir
To counter the threat of divisions, it is necessary to begin a pan-Orthodox discussion of the accumulated problems.
The loss of a common understanding of the structure of the Church and the nature of primacy in it are the main causes of the modern crisis in Orthodoxy. This opinion was expressed by His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, at a meeting of primates and delegations of the six Local Orthodox Churches, held in the capital of Jordan, Amman, on February 26, 2020, Patriarchia.ru reports.
As His Holiness Kirill noted, today the Orthodox Church faces the threat of divisions, the likes of which have not existed for nearly a thousand years. To counter this threat, it is necessary to begin a pan-Orthodox discussion of the accumulated problems.
The most acute challenges for Orthodoxy, according to Patriarch Kirill, are the following:
“Firstly, it is the problem of understanding the primacy in the Church; attempts to substantiate claims to universal supremacy with the help of specially created theological argumentation; the lack of a system of collective control over the actions of the leading cathedra, the denial of the need for consensus in decision-making on a pan-Orthodox scale. These issues should be universally conceived.
Secondly, it is a threat to the institution of autocephaly in the Church; the lack of a universally recognized mechanism for the provision of autocephaly indisputable for everyone; attempts to introduce an inequality between the “senior” and “younger” autocephalous Churches.
Third, there are existing attempts to challenge the canonical boundaries of the autocephalous Churches, to revise and revoke once adopted documents of historical importance defining these boundaries.
Fourth, the claims of the first among equal Primate in the family of Local Orthodox Churches on the right to accept appeals from any Church and the threat of using these appeals as a tool for interfering in the internal life of other Local Churches also, I am deeply convinced, require reflection and discussion.
Fifth, the occurrence of an abnormal situation when the leading hierarch, contrary to the basic principles of canon law, acts as a judge in the case where he is one of the parties, representing himself as the last resort in the consideration of this case.
And the sixth is the problem of creating the so-called “stavropegion” in the territories of other Local Churches without their consent or against their will.”
Other participants in the meeting spoke about the importance of a pan-Orthodox discussion of the situation, as well as solving problems in accordance with the holy canons.
As a result, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed the wish that the meeting in Amman be the first in a series of such meetings and turned to His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem with a request to initiate a continuation of the dialogue.
5 Comments
Sage words concisely put from the Patriarch. Thank you for publishing them. I expect Phanariots will now say you have betrayed the ομογένεια by ‘siding with the Russians against us’ but do not be perturbed that they do. They are the ones kicking against the pricks, and our concern for keeping Orthodoxy Orthodox is paramount; through it we can lay aside ethnic obsessions and appeals to racism. Moreover, if we continue to show our mettle as you do here, we will encourage the faithful to get educated on the threat the Phanar now poses to our faith, and respond as Orthodox Christians zealous for Christ and immune to the devil’s whiles. Καλό δηναμί!
Exactly
Seeking Truth on the First Day of Great Lent
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we begin this period of intensified repentance on the first day of Great Lent 2020 I call out to you to help in the God-pleasing work of acquiring land for our New Tikhvin Skete of the Holy Mother of God in Korona, (Bunnell), Florida. God has appointed us to be in this particular place and time and to come together to worship Him and work together prayerfully with our neighbors in this geographic place that was once a church, then a Polish Catholic Church with a Dance Hall and then a bar, and site where drunken drivers leaving the bar killed innocent people passing through our Flagler County, Florida.
A recent change at this site on Route 1 is a round about that slows the traffic to 25 miles an hour from 65. The outward site of a Cross and the closed bar and even just the thought of it was said to have ‘sent shivers’ to our friend who wants to help us.
Our goal in acquiring the White Eagle Bar in Bunnell, Florida (Korona) is to both directly and symbolically call on the Lord to aid us in caring for His people to return from drunkness and revelry to focused and sustainable missionary work in our neighborhood and supportive to the growth of the Orthodox Church where we have been blessed to do so as in Kenya, and around the world. We have until the Sunday before the Great and Holy Ascension of Christ to meet our financial goal to acquire this land, May 22, 2020.
Our time is so very short on earth. The bridegroom cometh at midnight and we must be watchful. (St. Matthew 25:6). As I reached out tonight by phone to the monk of the great schema, Father Anthony who has been directing me to get this land. At the tim eof 10pm EST call, he answered the phone as he was being taken again to the hospital Emergency Room for his difficulty in breathing. Our monastery and New Tikhvin Skete of the Holy Mother of God is a “hometown monastery”. We are here to serve our neighbors as we pray for the world and seek our salvation. We need to be that ’emergency hospital’ for the people reaching ou to us.
Please help us to be easy to find and accessible to our neighbors by aiding us in this land acquisition.
With appreciate every prayer and every penny.
Mother Elizabeth (Carol Klipa Bacha, Lifetime Orthodox Christian Missionary and Director
New Tikhvin Skete of the Holy Mother of God
26 Poppy Lane
Palm Coast, Florida 32164
http://www.NewTikhvinSketeoftheHolyMotherofGod.org
Unfortunately, Pat. Krill misses the real challenge which is focus on, “the one thing needful”- Jesus. All his points pertain to who is in power, who is in control. The greatest among us is the servant of all.
Amen. Amen. Amen.