Interview with Archdeacon John Chryssavgis, theological advisor to
Patriarch Bartholomew and director of communications at the Council in
Crete
The Council of Orthodox Churches has begun despite glaring
absences. It also promises to be the first significant step which others
will have to follow.
In an interview with Vatican Insider,
Archdeacon John Chryssavgis, theological advisor to Patriarch
Bartholomew and director of communications at the Council in Crete,
says: “This council has revitalized the conciliar process, which we pray
will once again become a normative part of the life of the Orthodox
Church, as it was in previous centuries. Councils should once again
become a natural process for discussing and deciding on issues of common
concern in the Orthodox Church. They are part of the identity of the
Orthodox Church.”
Can a Council be defined as “pan-Orthodox” when four Orthodox Churches are absent?
The difference in this particular gathering of bishops is that it was
approved and decided on a Pan-Orthodox basis at the Synaxis of Primates
only months ago in January 2016, a decision that confirmed the
unanimous mind of the Synaxis of Primates in March 2014. So this is a
Pan-Orthodox council – which the ecumenical patriarchate cannot change
by himself – from which, unfortunately and regrettably, four of the
Orthodox Churches are unable to attend.
That would be a legalistic perspective to your question. But the
reality is that none of the churches had expressed any objection or
unwillingness to attend the council in Crete until only days before the
council; even their travel itineraries and hotel accommodations were in
place until the last minute. This is the case even with the Church of
Antioch, which insists it never signed any decisions. In the case of the
Church of Russia, it was literally 48 hours before the delegations were
to arrive in Crete.
Is there consensus over the fact that the event
taking place in Crete is a first step, the first stage in a process that
will lead to a series of pan-Orthodox Councils that will see the
participation of all Churches?
It took several hundreds of years for a council of this magnitude (in
terms of representation and comprehensiveness) to gather this year in
Crete. This council was originally conceived as a Pan-Orthodox council
almost 100 years ago, while preparations began almost 60 years ago.
So, as you can imagine, it has been a long and laborious process to
encourage all of the Orthodox Churches to gather together after such a
long time of isolation, but also after so many historical changes and
upheavals that occurred through the centuries – from the Ottoman
occupation of the Eastern churches from the 15th century, through the
Soviet oppression in the 20th century, to the present-day humanitarian
crisis of refugees that plagues many regions where Orthodox Churches
(especially the ancient patriarchates of Antioch, Alexandria, and
Jerusalem) – it has been a miracle from above, “a blessing of God,” as
His All-Holiness called it, to manage to convene this Holy and Great
Council.
This council has revitalized the conciliar process, which we pray
will once again become a normative part of the life of the Orthodox
Church, as it was in previous centuries. Councils should once again
become a natural process for discussing and deciding on issues of common
concern in the Orthodox Church. They are part of the identity of the
Orthodox Church.
Are the difficulties flagged by some Churches
regarding specific problems that are also to do with relations between
Churches (the dispute between Antioch and Jerusalem, Ukraine’s
requests), to be resolved at the pan-Orthodox Council?
I cannot speak for the mind of the council or on behalf of the
delegate bishops. Certainly, the Holy and Great Council is the
appropriate place and proper time to discuss controversial issues
between or among the various Orthodox Churches. But I would doubt that
internal issues facing two churches, one of which is absent, would be
resolved at this council; and certainly the decision of the churches was
not to include new issues for discussion or resolution at this council.
Will the concluding message include a statement about the meeting in Crete being the first step in a Council process?
The final message was drafted by a special committee, comprising
representatives of all the churches in attendance, for referral to the
Primates during their Synaxis and then to the plenary of the council
itself. The intent is to deliver a prophetic witness of the Orthodox
Church and present a unified voice to the contemporary world, addressing
a word of consolation and hope to those suffering from economic and
military injustices, but also all those who thirst for the “living
water” of God’s word.