English version: Milena Daynova, Radio Boulgaria
A Holy and Great Council of Orthodox churches is taking place on
the island of Crete June 19 - 27. Unfortunately, without the
participation of the churches of Bulgaria, Russia, Georgia and Antioch.
Why did the Bulgarian Orthodox church decide not to take part in the
Orthodox Council, an event the churches have been waiting for for over
1,000 years?
We put this question to Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe:
“Being
one of the churches actively involved in the preparations for the Holy
and Great Council on the island of Crete, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
(BOC) had expected to be clear on the regulations of the Council
sessions. The BOC has stated its views on the documents endorsed
through the years on which there was supposed to be debate. But that
was not regulated. I am sure you will agree that no document signed at a
Council session in the 1970s, when preparatory sessions were being
held, could be valid now because the spirit of the times has changed.
The BOC complies with the understanding of Orthodox Christians who
cherish the purity of Holy Orthodoxy and the preservation of the
Orthodox faith as the church has handed it down to us. The view that
nothing can be altered in the documents adopted, the lack of any
discussion during which we could uphold the position of the Holy Synod -
that is what prompted us to make this decision not to take part in the
Council. We think that it would only have been attendance, not
participation, with no prospect of changing these documents, for which
we have every reason.”
Theologians and lecturers from the
Faculty of Theology have been reproaching the Holy Synod for this
decision, saying that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is increasingly
under the sway of the Russian Orthodox Church:
“There are
as many opinions as there are people. The BOC has stated its reasons
and the fact that some of our views are the same as the views of the
Russian, the Georgian or Antiochian church can in no way be construed
as meaning there is any interference in the sovereignty of any of the
Orthodox churches. On the contrary, when opinions coincide, there is
good reason for that. This is not a mere whim. As you will agree, a
forum like this has not taken place in 13 centuries, so the
responsibility of each of the churches is enormous. That is our view
and with the decision of the Holy Synod we are demonstrating that we do
not want the Council not to take place at all, we just want it
postponed. We think that a Council as important as this for Orthodoxy
as a whole must only be held when it has been prepared thoroughly, and
most of all, that all issues pertaining to the life of the Orthodox
Church must be discussed. And wherever there are impediments they must
be eliminated by general consensus and in light of the better
functioning of the church. So, we shall under no circumstances agree to
be accused that by not taking part we are trying to sabotage and
prevent the long-awaited forum from taking place. Quite the contrary -
there has not been a Council in 13 centuries, so what's stopping us
from postponing it by one year so it can be prepared properly? Because
out of 100 questions, only 6 will be debated. What about the remaining
94, when are we going to debate them? In another 100 years?”
Does this Holy and Great Council have the powers to punish the churches not attending?
“The
Council is in its rights to make its decisions as far as they can be
objective. But I think our non-participation is well motivated and I
would like to ask the question: A Council that is incomplete, can its
decisions be legitimate? So, I am hoping above all to see a highly
responsible attitude by the participants who could work to the benefit
of Holy Orthodoxy,” says in conclusion His Grace, Metropolitan Anthony
of Western and Central Europe.