Posted on 03/10/2014 7:24:53 PM PDT by marshmallow
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople will preside over a pan-Orthodox council in 2016, according to a statement from the patriarchate.
The decision to hold a pan-Orthodox council-- officially called the “Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church”-- was announced at the conclusion of a meeting of all the heads of the Eastern Orthodox churches. During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the situation in Syria and Ukraine.
The Catholic Church has held 21 ecumenical councils, from the First Council of Nicaea (325) to the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). The Orthodox churches recognize the validity of the first seven of these councils and have not held a pan-Orthodox council, though Orthodox prelates attended the Second Council of Lyon (1274) and the Council of Florence (fifteenth century), effecting temporary reunions with the Holy See.
In what could be an early indication of the difficulties that will be involved in bringing together all the leaders of the Orthodox world, the Patriarchate of Antioch “suspended” its support for the joint announcement, citing a dispute with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...
Over the leasing of land to Israelis? I have friends who suddenly ceased being Greek Orthodox and became Antiochian Orthodox. They are like one-issue voters.
This reads very oddly (even in the article linked to). For all we know (and since I have seen no reference in the Orthodox press to such a seemingly momentous item), the “decision” could have been unilateral. It was “announced” at the conclusion all right, but was everyone else caught by surprise? This bears further study before any conclusions.
Always thought the Greeks rather high handed in Orthodox affairs in Holy Land. Most of their congregants are Arabic speaking, and yet they bring priests over from Greece. What’s the deal please shed some light on this.
The first seven ecumenical councils were convened to deal with matters of doctrine; to condemn heretics and wall off the Church from heresy.
The article gives the impression that this is an eighth ecumenical council. It is not.
I’ve heard the same thing from non-Greek Orthodox Orthodox Christians. Cultural hubris, maybe, like the French.
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