Everyone in the Orthodox world
have been talking about the meetings, synaxis of the primates of the Orthodox
Churches in Constantinople, where many decisions were taken and many disputes
emphasised. A high point of the meetings was, of course, the decision taken for
the organisation of the Great and Sacred Synod of Orthodoxy in 2016. Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew wishes to hold this Great Council at the historic Church
of St. Irene in Constantinople. Many have been quick to name this the 8th
Ecumenical Council. Despite this not being important (at least now) and despite
this never happening before (an Ecumenical Council was named Ecumenical after
its catholic acceptance by the Church), we (Orthodox) need to see this as an
opportunity for further unity within the Orthodox Church and not as an excuse
for further disunity. I am sure that power politics will play an important role
in these talks; however, the hierarchs will have to see what is best for
Orthodoxy in general and find solutions to ongoing tensions within the Body of
the Church.
Following is the message given due to the
synaxis of the primates of the Orthodox Churches, whilst the pictures are from
the Divine Liturgy from the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of Lent.
SYNAXIS OF THE
PRIMATES
OF THE ORTHODOX
CHURCHES
(Phanar, March 6-9,
2014)
MESSAGE[1]
In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Through the grace of God, the
Primates of the Most Holy Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, to the Orthodox
faithful throughout the world, all of our Christian brothers and sisters as
well as every person of goodwill: we extend God’s blessing and our greeting of
love and peace.
“We always give thanks to God for
all of you and mention you in our prayers, remembering before our God and
Father your work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 1.2-3)
1. Having convened by the grace
of our compassionate God, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Constantinople
and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at the Phanar, from March 6-9, 2014;
having deliberated in fraternal love on matters concerning our Holy Church
today; and concelebrating in the Patriarchal Church of St. George on the
glorious occasion of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we address you with these words
of love, peace and consolation.
Inasmuch as our One, Holy,
Catholic, and Apostolic Orthodox Church dwells in the world, it also
experiences the challenges of every age. Faithful to Holy Tradition, the Church
of Christ is in constant dialogue with every period of time, suffering with
human beings and sharing their anguish. For “Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and to the ages” (Heb. 13.8).
The trials and challenges of
history are especially acute in our days, and Orthodox Christians cannot remain
uninvolved or indifferent to them. This is why we have assembled “together in
one place” (Acts 2.1) in order to reflect on the problems and temptations
facing humanity today. “There is fighting without and fear within.” (2 Cor.
7.5) These Apostolic words are also valid for the Church today.
2. In reflecting upon people’s
suffering throughout the world, we express our support for the martyrdom and
our admiration for the witness of Christians in the Middle East, Africa, and
other parts of the world. We call to mind their dual martyrdom: for their faith
as well as for the safeguarding of their historical relationship with people of
other religious conviction. We denounce the lack of peace and stability, which
is prompting Christians to abandon the land where our Lord Jesus Christ was
born and whence the Good News spread to the entire world.
Our sympathy extends to all
victims of the tragedy in Syria. We condemn every form of terrorism and
defamation of religion. The kidnapping of Metropolitans Paul and Youhanna,
other clergymen as well as the nuns of St. Thecla Convent in Maaloula remains
an open wound, and we demand their immediate liberation.
We appeal to all involved for the
immediate cessation of military action, liberation of captives, and
establishment of peace in the region through dialogue. Christians in the Middle
East are a leaven of peace. Peace for all people also means peace for
Christians. We support the Patriarchate of Antioch in its spiritual and
humanitarian ministry, as well as its efforts for reconstruction and the
resettlement of all refugees.
3. We fervently pray for peaceful
negotiation and prayerful reconciliation in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. We
denounce the threats of violent occupation of sacred monasteries and churches,
and pray for the return of our brothers presently outside of ecclesiastical
communion into the Holy Church.
4. A fundamental threat to
justice and peace – both locally and globally – is the global economic crisis.
The ramifications of this are evident on all layers in society, where such
values as personal integrity, fraternal solidarity and justice are often
wanting. The origins of this crisis are not merely financial. They are moral
and spiritual in character. Instead of conforming to the worldly idols of
power, greed and hedonism, we emphasize our vocation to transform the world by
embracing the principles of justice, peace, and love.
As a result of self-centeredness
and abuse of power, many people undermine the sacredness of the human person,
neglecting to see the face of God in the least of our brothers and sisters (cf.
Matt. 25.40,45). Many remain indifferent to the poverty, suffering and violence
that plague humanity.
5. The Church is called to
articulate its prophetic word. We express our genuine concern about local and
global trends that undermine and erode the principles of faith, the dignity of
the human person, the institution of marriage, and the gift of creation.
We stress the undisputed sanctity
of human life from inception until natural death. We recognize marriage as the
union of man and woman that reflects the union between Christ and His Church.
Our vocation is to preserve the natural environment as stewards and not
proprietors of creation. In this period of Great Lent, we exhort our clergy and
laity to observe a spirit of repentance, to experience purity of heart,
humility and forgiveness, bearing witness to the timeless teachings of our Lord
Jesus Christ in society.
6. This Synaxis of Primates is a
blessed occasion for us to reinforce our unity through communion and
cooperation. We affirm our commitment to the paramount importance of synodality
for the unity of the Church. We affirm the words of St. John Chrysostom,
Archbishop of Constantinople, that “the name of the Church signifies unity and
concord, not division.” Our heart is set on the long-awaited Holy and Great
Synod of the Orthodox Church in order to witness to its unity as well as to its
responsibility and care for the contemporary world.
The Synaxis agreed that the
preparatory work to the Synod should be intensified. A special Inter-Orthodox
Committee will work from September 2014 until Holy Easter of 2015, followed by
a Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference to be convened in the first half of 2015.
All decisions at the Synod and in the preparatory stages are made by consensus.
The Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church will be convened by the
Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople in 2016, unless something unexpected
occurs. The Synod will be presided by the Ecumenical Patriarch. His brother
Primates of the other Orthodox Autocephalous Churches will be seated at his right
and at his left.
7. Inseparably interconnected
with unity is mission. The Church does not live for itself but is obliged to
witness to and share God’s gifts with those near and afar. Participating in the
Divine Eucharist and praying for the oikoumene, we are called to continue this
liturgy after the liturgy, sharing the gifts of truth and love with all
humankind, in accordance with the Lord’s last commandment and assurance: “Go
ye, and make disciples of all nations . . . And lo, I shall be with you until
the end of the ages” (Matt. 28.19-20).
8. We live in a world where
multiculturalism and pluralism are inevitable realities, which are constantly
changing. We are conscious of the fact that no issue in our time can be
considered or resolved without reference to the global, that any polarization
between the local and the ecumenical only leads to distortion of the Orthodox
way of thinking.
Therefore, even in the face of
voices of dissension, segregation, and division, we are determined to proclaim
the message of Orthodoxy. We acknowledge that dialogue is always better than
conflict. Withdrawal and isolationism are never options. We reaffirm our
obligation at all times to be open in our contact with “the other”: with other
people and other cultures, as well as with other Christians and people of other
faiths.
9. Above and beyond all
challenges, we proclaim the good news of a God, who “so loved the world” that
He “dwelt among us.” Thus, we Orthodox remain full of hope. Despite all
tensions, we nevertheless dare to hope in the “almighty God, who is and who was
and who is to come” (Rev. 1.8) For we remember that the last word – the word of
joy, love, and life – belongs to Him, to whom is due all glory, honor and
worship to the ages of ages. Amen.
At the Phanar, the 9th of March,
2014
+ Bartholomew of Constantinople
+ Theodoros of Alexandria
+ Theophilos of Jerusalem
+ Kirill of Moscow
+ Irinej of Serbia
+ Daniel of Romania
+ Neophyte of Bulgaria
+ Ilia of Georgia
+ Chrysostomos of Cyprus
+ Ieronymos of Athens
+ Sawa of Warsaw
+ Anastasios of Tirana
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