I found this image of the Holy Father with Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningradhere. It is surely a sign of Divine blessing that shortly after we finish the week of Prayer for Christian Unity the Russian Orthodox Church (it is claimed) elects Metropolitan Kirill, 62, to succeed Patriarch Alexi II who died recently. Metropolitan Kirill favours co-operation with the Catholic Church so hopefully, with God's blessing, he will help usher in a new era of renewal and unity and perhaps the Churches of East and West will begin to breath with both lungs. Voting began on Sunday. I say 'claimed' because my only source is a report on the blog 'New Liturgical Movement'. Their source was Inside the Vatican. Let us pray that the news is true.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
New Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church
I found this image of the Holy Father with Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningradhere. It is surely a sign of Divine blessing that shortly after we finish the week of Prayer for Christian Unity the Russian Orthodox Church (it is claimed) elects Metropolitan Kirill, 62, to succeed Patriarch Alexi II who died recently. Metropolitan Kirill favours co-operation with the Catholic Church so hopefully, with God's blessing, he will help usher in a new era of renewal and unity and perhaps the Churches of East and West will begin to breath with both lungs. Voting began on Sunday. I say 'claimed' because my only source is a report on the blog 'New Liturgical Movement'. Their source was Inside the Vatican. Let us pray that the news is true.
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8 comments:
Slava Isusu Christu
Two lungs can only breathe when in unison with each other. Rome has gone clean out into left field with it's confused, Liberal,laxadaisacle Theology. To get the "Two Lungs" to breathe together much will have to be undertaken. Beardless clergy, Gregorian calendar, flat wafers. Papal Primacy. Saturday nite Liturgies etc. Ahh where to begin ? I feel There will be new schisms in Russian Orthodoxy if Patriarch Kiril goes westward. Slava Tebe Gospodi !!!
It's hard to respond to anonymity. Two lungs do need to be in unison. I don't believe that Rome is confused or laxadaisacle but elements in the Church are - there are always heretics and schismatics. The Roman clergy have always been shaven - that was the Roman way, the calendar was based on observation of the heavens - perhaps we could all get together and agree a new way of calculating it? - and our wafers were always unleavened as the East's have always been leavened. The Latin tradition is different why would any Orthodox want us to change our tradition when you rightly reject any Western pressure to change yours? Papal primacy is the key and together we can work our way to understand what the Lord wanted when he gave Peter the Keys - no small symbol that. No one, heretic or orthodox, questioned the right or duty of Rome to be the final court of appeal in the ancient Church. Peter still has the keys and they are safe in his hands. May the new Russian Patriarch lead his flock wisely and may his Church flourish like the palm tree
To say the Latin Tradition is different is an understatement. Rome added to the church Theology causing the Protestant movement to be born. The Ecumenical councils held , defined the church so no new calendar needs to be made or followed. None the less any kind of new Church Doctrine and lableing it "Our Tradition". I also highly doubt the early Church looked at the seat of Rome as the leader or why would there have been Ecumnenical Councils ? The "Pope" would have just waived his hand to the Bishops of the church with his "Infallable" authority , without the need for the 7 Councils. To say the Orthodox reject pressure from Rome to change our church is good. Just look at the Uniate "Byzantine" Church mess. If there was ever reason to distrust Rome this is number one on the list. As for the Keys to Heaven ,Yes St. Peter holds them but the keys are Faith in Christ not a physical Earthly leadership role. Besides if that was true then why not Antioch as the "Holy Seat" since St. Peter was Bishop First there? As for the shaven look, We as men are to emulate , as best as we can ,Jesus Christ who has a beard and let's his hair grow. This is Why his Icon is on the Right side on Our Iconostas.{Men Traditionally stand on the Right side in Church}. Besides one of the many reasons sighted for the ex- comunicating of the Bishop of Rome versus the Bishop of Constantinople in 1054 was shave clergy versus Bearded. I do hope for Church unity but certainly not at the price of Compromising any of the Canons laid forth by the Apostles or any from the Ecumenical Councils which already defined the Church what it is and what it is not. I pray to Our God and Lord Jesus Christ that our new Patriarch Kiril leads us on the correct path as I a sinner beg your forgiveness for any trangressions this oppinion artical may cause. I must stand true to my faith as best as I see it which is why it is to be Orthodox in the first place. "Pravoslavnij" Correct truth, rightly truth, Glorious Truth. Slava Isusu Christu. Glory to Jesus Christ
Here is a link to what an Orthodox Monk has to say about Rome , Catholics and Ecumenism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhqJSLY0p_M&feature=related
Thank you anonymous for replying. I too ask your forgiveness for any misunderstanding and assure you that the Catholic search for unity with Orthodoxy is genuine. I would refer you to Stephen K. Ray's book Upon this Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church (1999) published by Igantius Press, ISBN 0 89870 723 4. I found it very good and well researched. We Catholics do not want you to lose any of your Orthodox faith rather may it flourish like the palm tree. Peace and good!
It also occurred to me that a left lung is not a right lung, nor is a left hand a right hand, nor the left side of the brain the same as the right. When I try to explain the complementarity of the sexes to my students I use that image but I use it here to suggest another idea. The Church's various rites and traditions, shaped through different cultures and histories, are complimentary revelations of the Kingdom. The culture shock of going from one to another can be frightening but it passes. There were things about the Eastern rites I did not grasp until I realised that we do it too but differently. Peace and good!
The Scripture speaks of One Body of Christ, not two lungs. The question to be asked is are we in that Body?
Church unity and world peace will come when we UNIFY THE DATE OF EASTER. Jesus has been asking the Church for more than 2 decades to have one Easter date.
"Will I, brother, one more season go through the pain I have been going through year after year? or will you give Me rest this time? am I going to drink one more season the Cup of your division? or will you rest My Body and unify, for My sake, the Feast of Easter?
In unifying the date of Easter, you will alleviate My pain, brother, and you will rejoice in Me and I in you; and I will have the sight of many restored;" (Oct 14, 1991 TLIG)
LOVE AND HUMILITY IS MISSING.
Dialogues, rationalism and intellectualism will not bring about unity. Unity begins not with a signed treaty, but in the heart. All is possible with God and prayer is our contact with Him. Let us ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to truly repent, for the fruit of repentance is humility and love.
We need to and must allow the Holy Spirit to invade our minds and hearts so that He is able to direct us towards complete unity and peace. Until we UNIFY THE DATE OF EASTER, we hinder the Holy Spirit's action to come upon us in full force to give us the next step to take. We must UNIFY THE DATE OF EASTER first.
Let us bend our knees in prayer and ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit to inflame our hearts with obedience and love to UNIFY THE DATE OF EASTER.
Lord, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
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