Source: Union of Orthodox Journalists
Metropolitan Amphilochios claims the Church should return to the system that was before Emperor Constantine, and all issues should be resolved by the Ecumenical Council.
Metropolitan Amphilochios (Radovic) of Montenegro and the Littoral believes that “Jerusalem is the true mother of all Orthodox Churches” because, according to him, “neither Rome nor Constantinople, but Jerusalem gave birth to all churches”. He stated this in an interview with TASS agency.
In particular, His Eminence Amphilochios stressed that he did not believe in the possibility of repeating the scenario of Orthodox schism in the Balkans, which the Patriarchate of Constantinople had committed in Ukraine.
He recalled that Dedeich (the leader of the schismatic Montenegrin Orthodox Church – Ed.) was defrocked by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, “so this is out of the question”.
At the same time, commenting on the situation in Macedonia, Metropolitan Amphilochios stated that he would not like to believe, “that after all the events [in Ukraine]the Patriarchate of Constantinople will declare war on the Serbian Orthodox Church, since this would be the declaration of war to Orthodoxy. After Ukraine, everything can be expected but I still hope that this will not be the case.”
In addition, the Metropolitan regretted that “the Patriarch of Constantinople is influenced not by the decent figures but by a certain group of young metropolitans, ambitious people, who with their ambitions instigate the patriarch to certain actions”.
He noted that “he had talked with serious people from Greece and others” who are “dissatisfied with such an influence on the Patriarch of Constantinople”.
Metropolitan Amphilochios stressed that Patriarch Bartholomew “is an elderly man and tries to adapt in order to strengthen his primacy, but in fact, he is putting himself in harm’s way, there is no doubt about that”.
He also recalled that “there were great hierarchs on the patriarchal throne of Constantinople, universally recognized, such as John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian, yet there were condemned heretic patriarchs, so there aren’t infallible people in the Church.”
At the same time, His Eminence Amphilochios believes that Constantinople has long since lost its significance for the Orthodox world. In his words, “since 1453 Constantinople has ceased to be the imperial capital, today it is the capital of the Sultan. This quality of the imperial capital was inherited by the Russian kingdom, playing a large role for the whole of Orthodoxy until the royal death in 1918. After the fall of Constantinople and the killing of the tsar in Russia, the empire no longer plays its previous role, therefore, the Church must return to the system that used to be before Emperor Constantine, the Constantine era of ecclesiastic history is over.”
He emphasized that “the Ecumenical Council is the only one to solve all Orthodox issues”, which should be convened by the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, according to Metropolitan Amphilochios, if Patriarch Bartholomew “continues to behave this way, he will lose that right too”.
Also, according to one of the most authoritative hierarchs of the Serbian Church, “the only Church – the true mother of all Orthodox Churches – is Jerusalem, because it was neither Rome nor Constantinople, but Jerusalem that gave birth to all other Churches.”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Theophilos III, the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, declared that the Jerusalem Church is a Mother of all Churches and a guarantor of pan-Orthodox unity.
3 Comments
With all due respect, I think this article is as ridiculous as it is false. Leaving aside the subject of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Jerusalem ceased to exist in 70 A.D. The Romans renamed it Aelia Capitolina after they destroyed the city. Jerusalem only had significance because it was a place of pilgrimage.
I think he is pointing out that the Church was birthed in Jerusalem – i.e. think of Pentecost. Regardless of any worldly government or authority, this is the city where God commanded the Temple be built, and it was the place where Jesus Christ Himself was crucified and raised from the dead. Everything did start from the Church in Jerusalem. The Church in Jerusalem was independent of any worldly authority. Therefore, I do not understand your comment.
Instead of continuing to condemn the Church of Macedonia, this writer (not Macedonian) believes that the Serbian Orthodox Church hierarchy – always fixated on the “non-canonical” status of the Macedonian Church – should seek reconciliation and peace which is nothing else but the Christian way. We have all seen in recent years that the appeal to so-called “canonicity” is only a pretext for dominance and power politics, unworthy of those who consider themselves the representatives of Orthodoxy. Though not particularly enamored of Constantinople, this writer sees its actions in Ukraine as an attempt – repeat – attempt to bring about reconciliation in Ukraine so that millions of Orthodox Christians living there as well as those abroad could be in full communion with all other Orthodox. The repetition of past power politics is disgraceful and the structures of ancient imperial powers (Constantinople, Moscow and even Rome) must be put to rest and the simplicity in the organization of the primitive Church must prevail. In addition, a word about “canonicity”: in studying the theology of the early Church and the Ecumenical Councils, one may note that canonicity consists of having the True Faith, apostolic succession, the Holy Mysteries (sacraments), Orthodox biblically-based spirituality and correct moral principles and life. “Recognition” of the various Churches should be based only on these concepts and not on jurisdictional lines and ecclesiastical politics. Let us give glory to Christ alone, not to our structures and power games!