www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News 30 Days interview with Archbishop of Athens

The Italian magazine 30 Days has published another fine interview with an Orthodox archbishop, this one with Christodoulos of Athens.

http://www.30giorni.it/us/articolo.asp?id=11944

I would say the serenity of the man is in stark contrast to the strident and polemical attitude of the monks on Athos. Here is a quote:

"As far as the subject of the authority of the bishop of Rome is concerned we feel �in good hands�, seeing that His Holiness Pope Benedict has always affirmed that �Rome must not demand from the East, as regards the doctrine of the primacy, more than was formulated and lived during the first millennium�!"

That's a pretty loose interpretation of the words "strident" and "polemical".

Dear AMM,

Don't pay attention to the monks. If one knows history, they will recall that it was the Church of Greece that was so adamant towards any talks with the RCC, and it was the Church of Greece that refused to accept the Balamand Declaration. Arch. Christodoulos changed all that. He is of a different generation...and fortunately, highly charismatic and loved. I always loved his 'provincial' Greek ways.

Greece always looked towards Italy, and the two churches were quite close during the past centuries. It wasn't until the Second World War, and the attack by Mussolini that changed all that.

As the issues become resolved, the monks will gradually come around. Our Lord never meant us to be divided..and with fervent prayers, the Holy Spirit will prevail. Division is not of God.

Zenovia

The church cannot be directed without reference to the monastics, that is a recipe for disaster, and the 20th century is riddled with examples of church leaders acting without reference to others in the church. That in itself sows internal division. I also believe it was you who mentioned that you believe it was Monks following the Athonite practice who straightened out much of what was going wrong (as you perceived it) with Orthodoxy in America.

My point was that what the monks said was not polemic or strident. I think it was actually a rather reasonable statement that they have a different view and wished to communicate that to the Archbishop.

I don't consider myself a party to either position, and think both in their own ways are right and wrong about some things.

You are too selective in your reference to the monks' letter. They effectively state that the Pope is not a real bishop, and that the Catholic Church is not a real Church:

First of all, the Pope was received as though he were a canonical (proper) bishop of Rome. During the service, the Pope wore an omophoron; he was addressed by the Ecumenical Patriarch with the greeting �blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord� as though it were Christ the Lord; he blessed the congregation and he was commemorated as �most holy� and �His Beatitude the Bishop of Rome�.

Nevertheless, it is important that all these do not give the impression that the West and Orthodoxy continue to have the same bases, or lead one into forgetting the distance that separates the Orthodox Tradition from that which is usually presented as the �European spirit�. (Western) Europe is burdened with a series of anti-Christian institutions and acts, such as the Crusades, the �Holy� Inquisition, slave trading and colonization. It is burdened with the tragic division which took on the form of the schism of Protestantism; the devastating world wars, also the man-centered humanism and its atheist view. All of these are the consequence of Rome�s theological deviations from Orthodoxy.

Dialogues with the heterodox - if they are intended to inform them about the Orthodox Faith so that when they become receptive of divine enlightenment and their eyes are opened they might return to the Orthodox Faith � are not condemned.


In no way should a theological dialogue be accompanied by common prayers, participation in liturgical assemblies and worship by either side and any other activities that might give the impression that our Orthodox Church acknowledges the Roman Catholics as a complete Church and the Pope as a canonical (proper) Bishop of Rome. Such acts mislead the Orthodox as well as the Roman Catholic faithful, who are given a false impression of what Orthodoxy thinks of them....

Strident and polemical might not be the best choice of words to describe this attitude. Insulting. Elitist. Arrogant. I think those would be more accurate.

Believe what you will. Orthodoxy has a different ecclesiology, and the monks have a strict interpretation of it.

Dear Zenovia,

I find your post to be problematic in a number of areas. First, it is almost evident that anytime a monastic voice is raised, you make them out to be kooks or fanatics. If you want evidence I will point out a number of your posts in which this can be pointed out. I find that in itself to be offensive as an Orthodox Christian and contrary to Orthodox practice and belief.

Monasticism, both pre and post schism has been the voice that has kept the faith in the Church. It has also been the witness that has been able to educate faithful and clergy alike, and be an archive and repository to many books and documents along wit h other treasures that would have been lost long ago. Monastics have always been there to call hierarchs to account and to help them from straying in matters of doctrine and theology.

Yet, here the monastics are doing this again, you tell everyone simply to pay no attention to them. How would like if the same was applied to your posts? I could go on with reasons why the last question would be answered, but I am sure that you would not want it publicly placed up for all to see. I would strongly suggest you spend time learning maybe some history of the Church along with the theology, instead of spouting off with views that do not represent the Church.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Zenovia,

I agree with Father Anthony. The Evangelical Protestant Chuck Colson puts it very well when he says that what we call the Dark Ages was really the age of enlightenment because monastics kept the Faith alive, and that monastics provide the witness of Christ that is so desperately needed in the world today.

The Church needs the witness of monastics who live the Gospel Faith. We need to encourage monastics and pray for monastic revival.

I will state this once and only once. You are not to post in any thread that discusses monasticism. Your ongoing ridicule of monastics has caused you to forfeit sharing your opinions. If you post again on that topic you will have earned yourself a time out.

Admin

Yes, well said AMM. I would point out that the Roman Catholic Church also does not believe that the Orthodox Churches are the Church in the fullest sense. What I see in the monks' statements is just honesty. That being said, I am not presenting myself here as anti-ecumenical or as one who is opposed to praying together. But, I don't think that reminding people of the real boundaries that exist is being strident and polemical. There are real differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy and until these differences are resolved, there cannot be full unity. God bless.

Joe