Showing posts with label Orthodox Church of Poland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orthodox Church of Poland. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Ecumenical Patriarch to Visit Refugees in Poland
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been invited by Polish President His Excellency Andrzej Duda to visit Poland in order to bless,console and strengthen the Ukrainian refugees who have fled there from the Russian invasion of their country,according to a Communique issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Patriarch Bartholomew was,at the same time,also invited to Poland by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland,primate of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church (informally called the Orthodox Church of Poland).Accompanying Patriarch Bartholomew will be His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and the Very Reverend Grand Syncellus Iakovos Krochak.He will visit refugees staying in temporary shelters.*
The Holy Synod of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church on 22 March 2022 called for the Russian Federation authorities,headed by President Vladimir Putin,to cease hostilities against Ukraine,which it considers wicked and incomprehensible,according to the statement it issued.*
The Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church was granted autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1924.It has 278 parishes,including a diocese in Brazil,and had 504,400 members as of 2016.*
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Bright Week Journey:Patriarch Bartholomew in Poland
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople visited Poland during Bright Week 2019, exercising his ministry in the light of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.On 2 May, Patriarch Bartholomew led the March of the Living,a three kilometer walk between Birkenau and the Auschwitz Museum in Poland,sites of Nazi atrocities against Jews,Poles and other groups despised by Adolph Hitler.Along with His All-Holiness, Speaker of the Greek Parliament Nikolaos Voutsis, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila,US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman,His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and other dignitaries preceded several Jewish and Polish youth groups on the Holocaust Remembrance Day event, also called "Reflect and Learn".*
Patriarch Bartholomew addressed a crowd of 10,000, observing that the names of these concentration camps:
encapsulate what humankind when motivated by pure hatred, can do to desacralise and deface the dignity of the human person,who is created in the image of God.*
On 3 May, Patriarch Bartholomew was received by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland.After a doxology service,a service of thanksgiving in the university chapel of Sts.Cyril and Methodius,His Beatitude thanked God for the opportunity to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew and wished him a fruitful journey.
For his part, His All-Holiness characterised the state of relations between their two Churches as being excellent.
Then the two spiritual leaders proceeded to the new Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, the cornerstone of which Patriarch Bartholomew had laid in 2015.
Patriarch Bartholomew addressed a crowd of 10,000, observing that the names of these concentration camps:
encapsulate what humankind when motivated by pure hatred, can do to desacralise and deface the dignity of the human person,who is created in the image of God.*
On 3 May, Patriarch Bartholomew was received by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland.After a doxology service,a service of thanksgiving in the university chapel of Sts.Cyril and Methodius,His Beatitude thanked God for the opportunity to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew and wished him a fruitful journey.
For his part, His All-Holiness characterised the state of relations between their two Churches as being excellent.
Then the two spiritual leaders proceeded to the new Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, the cornerstone of which Patriarch Bartholomew had laid in 2015.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Eastern Europe Update:Ecumenical Patriarch Addresses Synaxis;Exarchs Appointed
On Monday,3 September 2018,speaking before the Synaxis of the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul,Turkey,His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew elucidated the position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the issue of autocephaly (independence) for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.Here are some excerpts:
In times of greater or lesser historical challenge,our Patriarchate-faithful to its vocation and ministry-neither says nor does anything unrelated to the incarnate Word.Its mission is not comprised of imposing some new ecclesiological principles but preserving truths of faith,precious traditions and inspired patristic teachings established many centuries ago.*
As the First Throne of Orthodoxy,the Ecumenical Patriarchate exercises a prophetic ministry,extending the mystery of the Catholic Church in Christ Jesus throughout the world in each era.*
The Ecumenical Patriarchate bears the responsibility of settling matters in ecclesiastical and canonical order because it alone has the canonical privilege as well as the prayer and blessing of the Church and the Ecumenical Councils to carry out this supreme and exceptional duty as a nurturing Mother and birth-giver of Churches.If the Ecumenical Patriarchate denies its responsibility and removes itself from the Inter-Orthodox scene,then the Local Churches will proceed "as sheep without a shepherd" (Matt.9.36),expending their energy in ecclesiastical initiatives that conflate the humility of faith and the arrogance of power.*
In the matter of Ukraine,the Ecumenical Patriarchate has appointed two exarchs,or legates,announcing on 7 September 2018 that:
Within the framework of the preparations for the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine,the Ecumenical Patriarchate has appointed as its exarchs in Kiev His Excellency Archbishop Daniel of Pamphlion from the United States,and His Grace Bishop Ilarion of Edmonton from Canada,both of whom are serving the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful in their respective countries under the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
Both exarchs were born in Ukraine.
Analysis:The Ecumenical Patriarchate indeed exercised the functions mentioned above in the twentieth century in Eastern Europe by,for example,granting a Tomos of autocephaly to both the Orthodox Church of Poland and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.Now it serves a new century at a time of war in Eastern Europe instigated by the Putin regime in Russia,with the same leading ministry,in all its holiness and sincerity,as the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople that it has always been,bravely asserting the religious freedom of a Ukraine so long repressed by its mighty and sinister neighbour to the East.
In times of greater or lesser historical challenge,our Patriarchate-faithful to its vocation and ministry-neither says nor does anything unrelated to the incarnate Word.Its mission is not comprised of imposing some new ecclesiological principles but preserving truths of faith,precious traditions and inspired patristic teachings established many centuries ago.*
As the First Throne of Orthodoxy,the Ecumenical Patriarchate exercises a prophetic ministry,extending the mystery of the Catholic Church in Christ Jesus throughout the world in each era.*
The Ecumenical Patriarchate bears the responsibility of settling matters in ecclesiastical and canonical order because it alone has the canonical privilege as well as the prayer and blessing of the Church and the Ecumenical Councils to carry out this supreme and exceptional duty as a nurturing Mother and birth-giver of Churches.If the Ecumenical Patriarchate denies its responsibility and removes itself from the Inter-Orthodox scene,then the Local Churches will proceed "as sheep without a shepherd" (Matt.9.36),expending their energy in ecclesiastical initiatives that conflate the humility of faith and the arrogance of power.*
In the matter of Ukraine,the Ecumenical Patriarchate has appointed two exarchs,or legates,announcing on 7 September 2018 that:
Within the framework of the preparations for the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine,the Ecumenical Patriarchate has appointed as its exarchs in Kiev His Excellency Archbishop Daniel of Pamphlion from the United States,and His Grace Bishop Ilarion of Edmonton from Canada,both of whom are serving the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful in their respective countries under the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
Both exarchs were born in Ukraine.
Analysis:The Ecumenical Patriarchate indeed exercised the functions mentioned above in the twentieth century in Eastern Europe by,for example,granting a Tomos of autocephaly to both the Orthodox Church of Poland and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.Now it serves a new century at a time of war in Eastern Europe instigated by the Putin regime in Russia,with the same leading ministry,in all its holiness and sincerity,as the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople that it has always been,bravely asserting the religious freedom of a Ukraine so long repressed by its mighty and sinister neighbour to the East.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Speaks Again on the Ukrainian Issue
According to a news release by the Ecumencial Patriarchate,on 1 July 2018,following the 40-day memorial for His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of Perge,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople,addressed the faithful on the topic of Ukraine:
Even today,if he (Metropolitan Evanagelos) were amongst us,he would have consented to the current and timely matter of settling the Ukrainian ecclesiastical problem for,as the Mother Church,it is reasonable to desire the restoration of unity for the divided ecclesiastical body in Ukraine,a faithful population of tens of millions,baptised and enlightened directly through the providence and missionary activity of our Ecumenical Throne.Besides,as in the past,the Church of Constantinople - while exercising its canonical rights and pastoral care - worked to successfully resolve difficult and complicated ecclesiastical problems,always guided by what is beneficial to the people of God and the preservation of Pan-Orthodox unity.
We should simply remember the Ecumenical Patriarchate's recent participation and support in the problems that afflicted the Churches of Jerusalem,Cyprus,Albania,and so on.In this spirit,the Great Church of Christ of Constantinople,speaking the truth in love,strives even today for the definitive resolution of the ecclesiastical issues in Ukraine.*
Let us not forget that Constantinople never ceded the territory of Ukraine to anyone by means of some ecclesiastical Act,but only granted to the Patriarch of Moscow the right of ordination or transfer of the Metropolitan of Kiev on the condition that the Metropolitan of Kiev should be elected by a Clergy-Laity Congress and commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarch.Listen to what is mentioned in this regard by the Tomos of autocephaly,which was granted by the Mother Church to the Church of Poland:"For it is written that the original separation from our Throne of the Metropolitan of Kiev and of the two Orthodox Churches of Lithuania and Poland which depend on it,and their annexation to the Holy Church of Moscow,in no way occurred according to the binding canonical regulations,nor was the agreement respected concerning the full ecclesial independence of the Metropolitan of Kiev,who bears the title of Exarch of the Ecumenical Throne."
In an interview with the Russian online publication Pravmir.ru,His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of Bursa,Turkey (Ecumenical Patriarchate),recalled that:
the granting of autocephaly to the Local Churches for almost 1350 years has been subject to the exclusive jurisdiction and competence of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople.
The criterion and purpose for the Mother Church in this case is not autocephaly in itself,since it is not an end in itself.However,it is given preference from the ecclesiastical point of view as the best and most canonical solution at the moment,because only this can serve the unity of the Orthodox people of Ukraine,which,as you know,is completely disunited.*
Analysis:From everthing that's been said,it indeed seems that we are headed to the granting of autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,and perhaps also to the Macedonian Orthodox Church,in the near future.
Even today,if he (Metropolitan Evanagelos) were amongst us,he would have consented to the current and timely matter of settling the Ukrainian ecclesiastical problem for,as the Mother Church,it is reasonable to desire the restoration of unity for the divided ecclesiastical body in Ukraine,a faithful population of tens of millions,baptised and enlightened directly through the providence and missionary activity of our Ecumenical Throne.Besides,as in the past,the Church of Constantinople - while exercising its canonical rights and pastoral care - worked to successfully resolve difficult and complicated ecclesiastical problems,always guided by what is beneficial to the people of God and the preservation of Pan-Orthodox unity.
We should simply remember the Ecumenical Patriarchate's recent participation and support in the problems that afflicted the Churches of Jerusalem,Cyprus,Albania,and so on.In this spirit,the Great Church of Christ of Constantinople,speaking the truth in love,strives even today for the definitive resolution of the ecclesiastical issues in Ukraine.*
Let us not forget that Constantinople never ceded the territory of Ukraine to anyone by means of some ecclesiastical Act,but only granted to the Patriarch of Moscow the right of ordination or transfer of the Metropolitan of Kiev on the condition that the Metropolitan of Kiev should be elected by a Clergy-Laity Congress and commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarch.Listen to what is mentioned in this regard by the Tomos of autocephaly,which was granted by the Mother Church to the Church of Poland:"For it is written that the original separation from our Throne of the Metropolitan of Kiev and of the two Orthodox Churches of Lithuania and Poland which depend on it,and their annexation to the Holy Church of Moscow,in no way occurred according to the binding canonical regulations,nor was the agreement respected concerning the full ecclesial independence of the Metropolitan of Kiev,who bears the title of Exarch of the Ecumenical Throne."
In an interview with the Russian online publication Pravmir.ru,His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of Bursa,Turkey (Ecumenical Patriarchate),recalled that:
the granting of autocephaly to the Local Churches for almost 1350 years has been subject to the exclusive jurisdiction and competence of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople.
The criterion and purpose for the Mother Church in this case is not autocephaly in itself,since it is not an end in itself.However,it is given preference from the ecclesiastical point of view as the best and most canonical solution at the moment,because only this can serve the unity of the Orthodox people of Ukraine,which,as you know,is completely disunited.*
Analysis:From everthing that's been said,it indeed seems that we are headed to the granting of autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,and perhaps also to the Macedonian Orthodox Church,in the near future.
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.
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