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to the orthodox clergy,

first of all, PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU!!!

What shall we do in order to unite our churches and when?!

Not to sway the thread away from topic,
but,
St. Francis is AWESOME!!!!!!

bro Francis,

Excellent question. I hope our Orthodox sisters and brothers see the question and respond.

Dan L

Good question, few answers. Prayer is probably the most important in any reapproachment. After that it is the willingness on both sides not only to discuss, but to listen. Then there will probably be some give and take.

Right now, I do not think either side has the right people involved in talking. This was evident at the meeting outside of Washignton a few years ago. The Greek Archbishop from Australia was more concerned about being heard than listening and understanding. He refused to bow and have and joint prayer before the icon of the Mother of God of Sitka (I believe that is the icon) and insisted on seperate prayer services to reinforce that there is no unity.

The Pope on the other hand in the last few years has made some serious attempts at getting things going again, especially during his visit to Greece. Unfortunately, even after 800 years the 4th Crusade and the Council of Florence-Ferrara was what the protesters and dissenting church leaders kept on bringing up.

Maybe things have to cool down a bit and maybe a few new faces are needed to get things going again.. Who knows, but that is the best I can think of.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

To refuse to pray infront of an icon of our Lady with Christian brethren does not symbolize a lack of unity, it symbolizes a slap in the face of the Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of our GOD!

Shame on that Archbishop, and may God bring his heart to HIS love. Anything that is not love is NOT of God!

Please forgive my outspokeness and forgive me if I sound judgemental---I would like to think of it as my outrage in this post as 'righteous indignation' from one Greek Orthodox about another, albeit a Bishop! *(unfortunately there is no 'righteous indignation' emoticon to insert! :p )*

In HIS most holy and loving name,
Alice

P.S. I am sorry that I put in my two cents where clergy was invited to speak. Father Anthony's post was valuable and my upset was in NO way aimed at him.
Infact I thank him for his candor about what went on at that meeting, because we must know what is negative in order to combat it. Sticking our necks in the sand won't promote unity at all.

To Brother Francis Mary's question, of course, if I had the easy answer, I'd send it on to the bishops, and then sit back and watch the fruit of our labors.... But, back to reality.

You know, there are certain commissions which discuss this and that theological issue. At least it's a start. Also, we can work together on social and moral issues, and when we can, speak with one voice. Maybe the Terry Schiavo issue would have been a good place to do this?

I certainly think that non-liturgical prayer together is acceptable, even necessary, in order to heal a very serious division. We can begin with the Lord's Prayer.

Sadly, I do think that we have grown far apart in our theological outlook. I would have to mostly agree with His Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew's assessment that was delivered at Georgetown University several years ago. Alas, it was not well received. Maybe it was not the place to say such a thing, but I think he was trying to put a tinge of reality on the Orthodox perspective of the contemporary Roman Catholic church.

I think one thing that can really help is a rediscovery, in both east and west, of our common history. Maybe that is the only place to start. But if we're too busy spinning it, it will be a futile exercise.

I do think it's nice to speculate on the possibilities of unity, but the realist in me says that it is something that is very difficult to achieve. With God, all things are possible.

Priest Thomas
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

Dear Brother, I hope you don't mind a Greek Catholic butting in on the conversation.

Last night at the veneration of the Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos, after receiving the Orthodox priest's blessing I mentioned "We are all her children, aren't we" and he immediately beamed a glorious smile and gave me the triple kiss.

He then invited the contingent from our Greek Catholic parish to sing the Troparion "Rejoice, Mother of God" in her honor which we love to do, and we gathered around the icon and sang to her.

She united heaven and earth, seemingly antimonic opposites, and somehow through her we will indeed all be united.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

Dear Diak,

Thank you for sharing that! May glory be to God! I KNOW that His Most Holy Mother will unite us spiritually one day, as she already has in the hearts of those who have opened them to allow her blessing in!

With love in Christ,
and abiding faith in the love and peace for each other that HE promised us if we truly follow HIM in our hearts and not just on our lips...
Alice, a sinner