Jun 24, 2016
KOLYMBARI (Chania, Crete), Greece – The work of the Holy
and Great Council of the Orthodox Church convened June 20, 2016, the
Feast of the Holy Spirit, at the Orthodox Academy of Crete after almost a
thousand years and despite the decision of four Churches not to
participate.
Photos Holy and Great Council events: https://www.flickr.com/photos/goarch/albums
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presides
over the Council. The following nine Primates of the Orthodox
Autocephalous Churches and their respective honorable delegations are
participating: His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, His Beatitude Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and all Greece, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, His Beatitude Archbishop Rastislav of Czech Lands and Slovakia.
Absent from the Council are their Beatitudes, Patriarch John of
Antioch, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria and
Patriarch Ilia of Georgia, Primates of their respective autocephalous
churches.
In his introductory address to the Council, His All-Holiness
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his regret and pain for the
absences of the sister Churches of Antioch, Russia, Bulgaria and
Georgia, “an unpleasant surprise on the twelfth hour,” as he said. The
Ecumenical Patriarch also said that even though they had sent the lists
of their delegations and had fully participated in all the phases of
preparation and therefore had every opportunity to put forth for
discussion all the issues before they had agreed and signed, they are
now using these issues as an excuse for their abstention. “This
unprecedented attitude, he said, we are having trouble understanding.”
His All-Holiness noted that “by striking at our unity we are striking
ourselves.” He emphasized that none of us, none of our Churches can
exist in isolation from the rest of the Orthodox Churches. We, Orthodox
Christians, are not and should not behave as a federation of Churches.
We are one Church, one body and we should resolve all our possible
differences in the Synod. This is what we have received from our holy
tradition and to that we should adhere to, said the Ecumenical
Patriarch.
Speaking about the question of how the abstentions might affect the
work of the Holy and Great Council, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
said, that in the long history of the Church, there were instances of
intended or unintended absences of some members in convened local or
ecumenical synods, but that did not at all impede the convening of those
councils. The decision to convene the Holy and Great Council was
Pan-Orthodox, said His All-Holiness, and it can and will go on with its
work.
The Primates of the Local Orthodox Autocephalous Churches in their
turn, addressed greetings to the Council, unanimously expressing their
joy and support for being present at this historic event. They
reaffirmed their commitment to work together in unity to address the
questions facing the Church in the contemporary world and to deepen
co-operation in the future.
His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus acknowledged the need
for regular councils bringing together Hierarchs from around the world
in order to develop a common response to pressing issues, including
bio-ethical and environmental dilemmas. Addressing the mission of the
Church in the world, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Albania
underlined the need for repentance, while His Beatitude Archbishop
Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia underscored the fact that, in
spite of their ethnic differences, Orthodox Christians are one people.
Sunday of Pentecost
The date of June 19 was the date of the First Ecumenical Council held
in Nicaea in 325 AD. This fact was noted by His All-Holiness Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew, as on June 19, 2016 the Holy and Great Council
of 2016 AD commenced with the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy concelebration
of the Holy Feast of Pentecost - calling all in unity. His All-Holiness
posed the question at some point: coincidence or divine providence?
His All-Holiness Bartholomew presided over a resplendent patriarchal
concelebration of Pentecost with the Primates of the Orthodox
Autocephalous Churches. His Excellency the President of the Hellenic
Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos along with many other dignitaries and
officials were in prayerful attendance.
“A joyful day has now dawned,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch, at the
opening of his Homily and said that today is a day of unity, as we are
all united in the faith and the sacraments of our Church, adding, “The
unity of the Orthodox Church and its faithful represents our mission.
Our ecclesial unity does not take on the form of a federation, nor does
it stem from the congregating around some mere human. It proceeds from
and is made complete by our common faith, which is synonymous with
salvation, with eternal life.”
After the end of the Divine Liturgy and the Vespers of the Holy
Spirit, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Primates
of the Local Orthodox Autocephalous Churches and the President of
Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, attended a reception at the
offices of the Archdiocese of Crete, hosted by His Eminence Archbishop
Eirinaios of Crete.
Official Luncheon by the President of Greece
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered a toast on behalf of the
Primates of the Local Orthodox Autocephalous Churches, at a luncheon
hosted in their honor by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr.
Prokopis Pavlopoulos. His All-Holiness thanked the beloved people of
Greece for their prayerful presence and support to the work of the Holy
and Great Council, promising that Orthodoxy shall fulfill her historic
duty and responsibility.
“Orthodoxy constitutes a real and permanent place of peaceful
coexistence and stability in the modern – torn – world, a true source of
peace for all the peoples. The word of the Orthodox Church is
essential, because it proclaims the necessity of charity, love, and
unity of mankind, as well as, the necessity of peaceful cooperation
between the peoples of the earth, regardless of the religious faith of
each,” said His All-Holiness.
President Pavlopoulos, welcomed the convening of the Holy and Great
Council in Crete, making references to the First Ecumenical Council, and
the value of the Synodical System, “as the irreplaceable guarantee of
the unity of the Orthodox Church.” He also said that the mission of the
Holy and Great Council acquires universal dimensions, “since
Christianity, with Orthodoxy as its epicenter, is called to defend
besides everything else, the principles and values of European culture
and western civilization in general, with emphasis on those of peace,
democracy, freedom and justice.”
An open and honest discussion
In the ensuing days since its opening the Holy and Great Council
considers and continues to discuss the six Pre-Conciliar Documents in
the agenda: The Mission of the Orthodox Church in today’s World, the
Orthodox Diaspora, Autonomy and the means by which it is proclaimed, the
importance of Fasting and its observance today, Relations of the
Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian World and the Sacrament
of Marriage and its impediments.
Extensive discussion on the pre-conciliar texts was held and various
suggestions and clarifications were proposed by the Primates and
individual Hierarchs of the local Orthodox Autocephalous Churches.
“It is an experience of absolute freedom of expression of views and
opinions without limits or hindrances of any kind. It is an honest and
open discussion on very difficult and complex issues”, said His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America
about the work of the Synod. His Eminence also underlined the
importance of the manner in which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
presides at the Synod, saying it is “an exquisite, attentive and elegant
way, which fosters an atmosphere of freedom and unity.”
The Council will continue meeting through June 25, concluding with the Divine Liturgy on June 26.
Photos from Holy and Great Council: https://www.flickr.com/photos/goarch/albums
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Contact: PRESS OFFICE
Stavros Papagermanos
(212) 570-3530
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Stavros Papagermanos
(212) 570-3530
pressoffice@goarch.org