Makes the heart sad…
13 October 2007 - 2 חשון 5768 by Huw
Russian Orthodox walk out of ecumenical talks… Not because of theological issues, mind you, but rather because of petty Russian-Greek bickering.
Orthodox Archbishop Illarion of Vienna, who led the Russian delegation, said the Russian Orthodox Church does not recognize the legitimacy of the Estonian Apostolic Church created by Constantinople and conditioned his delegation’s participation in the talks on the exclusion of the Estonian delegation.
Mmm. Constantinople created bishops within the territory the Russian church says is hers.
How very Anglican.
Yep, on this one they both behaved badly. Geographically, Estonia is on the border of Russia and a LONG LONG way away from Constantinople. The recognition of Estonia was about as deliberate a slap on the face and as deliberate a claim of power as Constantinople could come up with. To then have Estonia invited to the talks was provocation.
Russia’s mistake is to handle it with argumentation and these type of actions rather than calling for a Pan-Orthodox Synod. Whether that Synod would eventually be considered a council or not, who knows? However, the quickest way to resolution would be a decision by such a synod.
I suspect that some resolution would come that would leave both parties somewhat unhappy, but ready to go on and put it behind them. However, both Russia and Constantinople are caught in the game of bickering rivals.
This eternal fight for jurisdictional rights is somewhat frustrating. The Church of Russia is trying to take control of all the orthodox world. Even here in Finland although Orthodox Church of Finland is under jurisdiction of Constantinople we have russian-speaking parishes that are under the jurisdiction of Moscow. Two jurisdiction inside one autonomous Church.
Hmm. I didn’t know that about Finland, although I know Estonia is split.
The Orthodox Church here in America is under the control of too many other Country’s. It’s time for a united Orthodox Church in America.
Jacob Lee
LOL! the point of this post, Jacob, is that it’s the same all over the Orthodox World. It is also the same in other parts of the Christian world.
That’s the way we are: humans.