Moscow Patriarch Threatens Orthodox Church with Schism, Attacks Ecumenical Patriarch

[Pezy]

Moscow Patriarch Threatens Orthodox Church with Schism, Attacks Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Over Ukraine Church

http://greekinsight.com/?conID=13613

22/07/2008

Athens- The Orthodox Christian Church has come under threat of schism for the first time in 954 years. The cause is Moscow Patriarch Alexy, who in an act of unprecedented aggression against Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has raised the threat of a major schism in a letter sent to all church primates.
The Moscow Patriarchate has for many years sought to play the leading role among Orthodox churches. The present attempt comes in connection with events in Kiev on July 26th and 27th to celebrate 1020 years since the Christianization of the city’s population by Vladimir the Great. The Ecumenical Patriarch was among those officially invited to the events, to be attended by Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko, and of course Kiev Patriarch and Patriarch Alexy.

But in a sudden development on July 20th, Patriarch Alexy sent a letter to all heads of churches accusing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of ties with the Kiev Patriarchate and threatening the former with a schism “comparable to the events of 1054”, i.e. the Great Schism between Rome and Constantinople.
It should be noted that Archbishop of Albania Anastasios was the first to express his full support for the Ecumenical Patriarch – unlike Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos, who was among the first to side with Patriarch Alexy.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is openly supported by the US State Department for many years.

[ZeroZen]

I wonder who's the culprit to break up from the church of Rome long time ago.

[Abaddon]

I wonder who's the culprit to break up from the church of Rome long time ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East-West_Schism

Both Pope Leo IX and the Patriarch of Constantinople, essentially.

[ThatHistoryDude]

Shenanigans like this almost make me wish I had become catholic rather than Orthodox a few years ago. This is why politics and the church shouldn't mix.

[Doublethinker]

Shenanigans like this almost make me wish I had become catholic rather than Orthodox a few years ago.

You love your boys nice and clean, don't you? p-)

[Ordie]

What does this have to do about gas prices going up?

[hughdotoh]

Schism? Being Orthodox myself, it's more of who is more Orthodox than the other. The Primates have been at it for ages, ever since the fall of Constantinople. At the end of the day, the padres will still be bearded and everyone still still crosses himself the same (and rant and rave about that Goth Roman bishop :lol:)

[NowPlaying]

You love your boys nice and clean, don't you? p-)

Triple DOTW candidate?

[Pezy]

A few days old but a good read.



Bartholomew I in Kiev: a "victory" over Alexy II? by NAT da Polis

Monday, 21 July 2008

Source: www.asianews.it (http://www.asianews.it) - (link to the article) (http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12811&size=A)

From July 25-27, ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew I will visit Kiev to preside over the celebrations for the 1020 years of the Christianization of Ukraine.

The visit should help to unite the Orthodox world, often divided by nationalism. At the solemn liturgy in the cathedral of Kiev, and in the presence of various metropolitans from all over the world, the hierarchical order of the Eastern Church will be displayed, which recognizes the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople as first in the hierarchy, followed by Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow.

In recent days, there have been controversies and reactions from the Russian side over the role of Bartholomew as leader of the ceremonies. In the end, however, Moscow decided to be present in the liturgy with Alexy II himself. This acceptance on the part of Moscow is judged by many as a "victory" for Bartholomew I. For some time, Moscow ("the third Rome") has been contending with Constantinople ("the second Rome") for the position of leadership in the Orthodox world.

In recent days, some Ukrainian journalists have gone to visit Bartholomew, and this has allowed the patriarch to make some clarifications for those who understand Orthodoxy as "a battleground for primacy".

Bartholomew I first of all thanked Ukrainian President Yushenko for inviting him and the patriarch of Moscow, Alexy II, as well as all of the Orthodox Churches of the world. He then recalled the efforts of the patriarch of Constantinople to resolve in a collegial manner the problems afflicting the Orthodox world: the rebirth of the Albanian Church; the (contested) patriarchate of Jerusalem; the sufferings of the Church of Cyprus, etc. Bartholomew I emphasized that this effort (and primacy) is at the service of the sister Churches, and must not be understood as the primacy of the pope of Rome. "The ecumenical patriarcate", Bartholomew I said, "is sometimes accused of becoming a second pope, a pope of the Eastern Church. By its nature, the ecumenical patriarchate is not the pope of the East. In spite of this, everyone makes use of its services, because [Constantinople] is the mother Church of the Orthodox Christian world, its point of reference and coordination".

Bartholomew I recalled the evangelization of the Slavs, by Cyril and Methodius, which took place in respect of national identity, avoiding Hellenization; the autonomy granted to the churches of the Balkans, of Ukraine and Russia. "In its activities", the patriarch continued, "Constantinople's sole aim is the ecclesial and spiritual interest of human development, and not those of politics".

(...)

But in the intellectual Orthodox world, there are murmurs that "once again in the Orthodox world, national interests are prevailing over that of the universal message of Christ". A well-known Orthodox theologian, who wanted to remain anonymous, tells AsiaNews that "unfortunately, in the Orthodox world there are pockets where the globalizing spirit of the gas pipelines outweighs the universal spirit of Christ". "In this way", he concludes, "there is further confirmation of the importance of the role of Constantinople, which, rich in suffering and experience, has always refused to put national political interests before the message of Christ".


Photos from the warm reception of Ecumenical Patriarch from President Yushchenko and other state and religious officials: http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-263547.html