Recently the Ecumenical Patriarchate agreed to consider a request from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,backed by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and the Ukrainian Parliament,the Verkhovna Rada,to grant the autocephaly,or independence,of said Church.Now a similar request has been received from another Eastern European nation.
On 30 May 2018,the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate met under the Presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.It subsequently issued a communique regarding a request from the Schismatic Church of Skopje,Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,which was supported by a letter from the Prime Minister of FYROM,His Excellency Mr.Zoran Zaev.The Schismatic Church of Skopje asked the Ecumenical Patriarchate to take the initiative of returning this Church to canonical status under the name Archdiocese of Ohrid.*
The Holy and Sacred Synod has decided to seize this initiative and do what is necessary under the intangible conditions of the historic canonical powers and prerogatives of the primatial throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
Analysis:The Ecumenical Patriarchate under Patriarch Bartholomew is showing a great deal of strength in taking up these controversial issues at this time,putting itself on the line for troubled Orthodox Churches in need of legitimacy.It is making clear by deeds that it will not shy away from its pastoral obligations and canonical prerogatives,but will instead live up to its title,the Great Church of Christ.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Panorthodox Synod : THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ - Church, AND ITS LATER...
Panorthodox Synod : THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ, AND ITS LATER...: The Biblical Background of ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ, and its Later Application in Orthodox Ecclesiology Α paper presented by Prof. Emeritus Petros Va...
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Thursday, May 24, 2018
New Orthodox Cathedral Based on Byzantine Architecture Opens in Warsaw
Warsaw's Orthodox Christians,as well as pilgrims from many other lands,gathered for the first Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church of Poland's new Agia Sophia Cathedral on 19 May 2018.The cornerstone of the sacred edifice had been laid and blessed by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and His Beatitude Metropolitan Sava of Warsaw and All Poland on 5 December 2015.*
Concelebrating the service on Saturday,in addition to Metropolitan Sava,were His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos (Ecumenical Patriarchate);His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk (Moscow Patriarchate);His Grace Bishop Diodor of Yuzhnoe (Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate);bishops of the Orthodox Church of Poland's Holy Synod;and numerous other clergy.Four Polish choirs chanted the Liturgy in the Cathedral modeled after its namesake,Agia Sophia in Constantinople.
Addresses marking the majestic event from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia were read to the faithful,many of whom donated commemorative blocks placed in the Cathedral walls to affirm their faith and love for their forbearers.The Cathedral is dedicated to the memory of all those who suffered and died for the Orthodox faith,especially the neomartyrs of Poland.*
Besides the first Liturgy,the event marked the occasions of Metropolitan Sava's 80th birthday and 20th anniversary as Primate of Poland;and indeed,the 100th anniversary of Polish independence.A golden cross for the Cathedral's central dome was blessed,elevated and installed at the conclusion of the service.*
The Cathedral's iconography has not yet been written.
Concelebrating the service on Saturday,in addition to Metropolitan Sava,were His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos (Ecumenical Patriarchate);His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk (Moscow Patriarchate);His Grace Bishop Diodor of Yuzhnoe (Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate);bishops of the Orthodox Church of Poland's Holy Synod;and numerous other clergy.Four Polish choirs chanted the Liturgy in the Cathedral modeled after its namesake,Agia Sophia in Constantinople.
Addresses marking the majestic event from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia were read to the faithful,many of whom donated commemorative blocks placed in the Cathedral walls to affirm their faith and love for their forbearers.The Cathedral is dedicated to the memory of all those who suffered and died for the Orthodox faith,especially the neomartyrs of Poland.*
Besides the first Liturgy,the event marked the occasions of Metropolitan Sava's 80th birthday and 20th anniversary as Primate of Poland;and indeed,the 100th anniversary of Polish independence.A golden cross for the Cathedral's central dome was blessed,elevated and installed at the conclusion of the service.*
The Cathedral's iconography has not yet been written.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Presided by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine,this is the ordination of the Very Rev. Archimandrite Christophoros to the episcopate on 19 May 2018.He is now Archbishop of Kyriakoupolis and Patriarchal Representative in Amman,Jordan.Η ΧΕΙΡΟΤΟΝΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΨΗΦΙΣΜΕΝΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΟΥΠΟΛΕΩΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΦΟΡΟΥ
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Ecumenical Patriarchate's Ukraine Commission Meets with Archbishop of Athens
On 14 May 2018,the Commission on Ukraine of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople called on His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece at the Holy Synod of Greece's offices in Athens.The Commission members attending were two prominent theologians,His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon and His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France;and His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna (Izmir,Turkey).For its part,the Holy Synod of Greece,besides Archbishop Ieronymos,were represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni,an expert on Patristics and Byzantine Theology;His Eminence Metropolitan Damaskenos of Didymoteichon and Orestiadis;and His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias and Almyros,member of the Holy Synod's Committee for Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Christian relations. The purpose of the meeting was to brief the Church of Greece about the Ecumenical Patriarchate's evolving involvement in the question of the prospective autocephaly (independence) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.Autocephaly has been officially requested by Ukrainian President Petro Porishenko and the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (Parliament),as well as two of the three Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine,the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiyivan Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.It's basically seen as a major step in Ukraine's evolution as a free and independent nation,spritually and culturally as well as politically.The third jurisdiction,the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate,is bitterly critical of the idea,saying,among other things,that it is a political tactic being used by President Poroshenko for the upcoming election.*
In the course of the dialogue in Athens,however,it reportedly emerged that His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is determined to proceed with granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.Archbishop Ieronymos took a neutral position as,given the gravity of the issue,he wants to put it before the whole synod of the Church of Greece at its next assembly in October.*
The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate meets again at the end of May,so a final decision on autocephaly for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church could come as early as then.
In the course of the dialogue in Athens,however,it reportedly emerged that His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is determined to proceed with granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.Archbishop Ieronymos took a neutral position as,given the gravity of the issue,he wants to put it before the whole synod of the Church of Greece at its next assembly in October.*
The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate meets again at the end of May,so a final decision on autocephaly for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church could come as early as then.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Monday, May 7, 2018
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Friday, May 4, 2018
Panorthodox Synod :Ukrainian Autocephaly - FR. CYRIL HOVORUN INTERVIEW TO TORONTO-BASED UKETU...
Panorthodox Synod : FR. CYRIL HOVORUN INTERVIEW TO TORONTO-BASED UKETU...: UkeTube Ukrainian Video · Full Interview with Very Rev. Fr. Dr. @ Cyril Hovorun (Д-р Кирило Говорун), Acti...
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Major Decision on Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarchate Could Be Near
On 22 April 2018,the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a reply to a formal request by President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine that autocephaly (independence) be granted to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.The President's request had been made both in person and by letter,with the approval of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) and two of the three jurisdictions of Orthodox in Ukraine,the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate is not in favour of the initiative.*
President Poroshenko had initially requested autonomy for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2016.The new request for autocephaly was made in earnest when the President was received by His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew on 9 April 2018.The meeting lasted a lengthy 90 minutes and the seriousness of the agenda was reflected by the number and stature of the Patriarch's advisors who attended the animated and profound discussions:
His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon,eminent theologian;
His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidoforos of Proussos (Bursa,Turkey);
His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna (Izmir,Turkey);
His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos ,eminent theologian;and
the Very Rev.Archimandrite Joachim Billis,Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
Addressing the Verkhovna Rada on 19 April,Mr.Poroshenko said:
Having our own Church is an attribute of an independent nation.The state shouldn't interfere in religious affairs;furthermore,a foreign nation (Russia) doesn't have the right to interfere in the religious affairs of Ukraine.*
A letter from President Poroshenko to Patriarch Bartholomew containing the request was hand-delivered by an emissary on 20 April.On 22 April,the Ecumenical Patriarchate replied:
In accordance with the Divine and Sacred Canons,as well as centuries-old ecclesiastical order and Holy Tradition-the Ecumenical Patriarchate concerns itself with the preservation of Pan-Orthodox unity and the care for Orthodox Christians around the world-especially of the Ukrainian Orthodox Nation that has received the salvific Christian faith and holy baptism from Constantinople.Thus,as it is the true Mother Church,it examined matters pertaining to the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine,as done in previous synodal sessions,and having received from ecclesiastical and civil authorities representing millions of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians-a petition that requests the bestowal of autocephaly,decided to closely communicate and coordinate with its sister Orthodox Churches concerning the matter.*
By way of historical context,the Ecumenical Patriarchate has in recent times granted a tomos (official recognition) of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria in 1998 and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in 2014;as well as a tomos of autonomy to the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church in 1996.As well.the Ecumenical Patriarchate received into its jurisdiction groups of Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in both the USA and Canada.These North American metropolises both strongly support autocephaly for the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.*
President Poroshenko has requested a decision on autocephaly by 28 July 2018,the 1030th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus,so it could come any time now.Some see the fact that the President has made such a public appeal is a sign that he believes the Ecumenical Patriarchate is leaning his way.*
There are also reports that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been considering establishing metochia (embassy churches) in two Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Lviv.
President Poroshenko had initially requested autonomy for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2016.The new request for autocephaly was made in earnest when the President was received by His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew on 9 April 2018.The meeting lasted a lengthy 90 minutes and the seriousness of the agenda was reflected by the number and stature of the Patriarch's advisors who attended the animated and profound discussions:
His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon,eminent theologian;
His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidoforos of Proussos (Bursa,Turkey);
His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna (Izmir,Turkey);
His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos ,eminent theologian;and
the Very Rev.Archimandrite Joachim Billis,Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
Addressing the Verkhovna Rada on 19 April,Mr.Poroshenko said:
Having our own Church is an attribute of an independent nation.The state shouldn't interfere in religious affairs;furthermore,a foreign nation (Russia) doesn't have the right to interfere in the religious affairs of Ukraine.*
A letter from President Poroshenko to Patriarch Bartholomew containing the request was hand-delivered by an emissary on 20 April.On 22 April,the Ecumenical Patriarchate replied:
In accordance with the Divine and Sacred Canons,as well as centuries-old ecclesiastical order and Holy Tradition-the Ecumenical Patriarchate concerns itself with the preservation of Pan-Orthodox unity and the care for Orthodox Christians around the world-especially of the Ukrainian Orthodox Nation that has received the salvific Christian faith and holy baptism from Constantinople.Thus,as it is the true Mother Church,it examined matters pertaining to the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine,as done in previous synodal sessions,and having received from ecclesiastical and civil authorities representing millions of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians-a petition that requests the bestowal of autocephaly,decided to closely communicate and coordinate with its sister Orthodox Churches concerning the matter.*
By way of historical context,the Ecumenical Patriarchate has in recent times granted a tomos (official recognition) of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria in 1998 and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in 2014;as well as a tomos of autonomy to the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church in 1996.As well.the Ecumenical Patriarchate received into its jurisdiction groups of Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in both the USA and Canada.These North American metropolises both strongly support autocephaly for the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.*
President Poroshenko has requested a decision on autocephaly by 28 July 2018,the 1030th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus,so it could come any time now.Some see the fact that the President has made such a public appeal is a sign that he believes the Ecumenical Patriarchate is leaning his way.*
There are also reports that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been considering establishing metochia (embassy churches) in two Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Lviv.
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