www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News MP diocese in UK to join EP?

This article on the situation was just posted on the OCA website as a reflection effecting the Church in the UK as well as its potential ramifications.

OCA article [oca.org]

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Not in the least. I agree with much of what you're saying.

Andrew

Bless, Father Anthony,

I ask for your forgiveness, Father Anthony, for having offended you and given you unnecessary cause for grief and disappointment in me.

Kissing your right hand and bowing in spirit lowly before you, I again implore your forgiveness and blessing,

Alex

Alex,

I was not offended personally by the remark, but I was taken off-guard by what I and some others percieved as an insensitive statement and disappointed by it. Not only is this a news item that effects those within one particular diocese, but also effects relations between two autocephalous Orthodox Churches that have been on the brink of not only breaking realtions but also communion for the past ten years. It may seem in your mind to let it happen, but something like this has a way of polarizing not thoses directly effected but the entire church.

Yes, a number of other issues can come into play with this possibly including Ukraine, but that is completely speculative at this point. A lot has to deal with Moscow�s reaction to the situation that is unfolding. We are not only talking of news of churches here, but how it will be disruptive to the spiritual lives of those involved. In some cases the bitterness of the situation may poison their spiritual lives and turn them from the Church either temporarily or permanently.

If I had made a similar remark on a thread dealing with the Eastern Churches or the Roman Catholic Church undergoing the same type of strife, not only would I have been deemed insensitive, but may have created a great furor among the different posters I have come to respect and love on this forum, and that would include you.

I am one that appreciates levity, and I have joked in the past with others including you, but on a situation like this, there is very little to appreciate any humor that may be offered at least for the time being. Imagine how those who are not registered, yet read how we react and post concerning this and other issues.

Instead of levity, we really need to be offering prayers for peace and love within the Church. I hope this puts your mind to rest.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

This just in:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1552

09 June 2006, 22:55
Russian Church Synod: Bishop Basil Osborn has no right to change jurisdiction until crisis is fully settled

Moscow, June 9, Interfax � The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has supported the Bishop Basil Osborn�s dismissal from governance over the Moscow Patriarchate diocese of Surozh without the right to change jurisdiction.

The Holy Synod, which met on June 7, resolved that approval be given to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia�s decree to discharge Bishop Basil from his post �into retirement without the right to change jurisdiction until the crisis in the Surozh diocese is fully resolved by a specially appointed commission�.

The Moscow Patriarchate expressed regret at Bishop Basil�s refusal to meet the commission and described the case he made out to justify his refusal as �groundless�.
The Russian Church bishops reminded him �of his responsibility before God and the Church for keeping the episcopal consecration pledges�.

The Holy Synod also called Bishop Basil to cooperation with Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun, as well as �the pastors and faithful of the Surozh diocese for the sake of healing as soon as possible the painful developments in the diocesan life�.

Report came earlier on Friday that the Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to accept the former administrator of the Surozh diocese into its jurisdiction.

Patriarch Alexy decreed in May that a commission to consider the crisis in the diocese of Surozh be set up to include Archbishop Innokenty, Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations (DECR) secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and Rev. Mikhail Dudko, DECR secretary for church-society relations.

Alexandr

Alexandr,

Thanks for the update. I am now curious to see what Moscow's reaction will be towards Constantinople, This release was basically directed at Bishop Basil.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Father Anthony,

Sorry, but I reject categorically your view that it is my wish to "let it happen" where "it" is a break between Constantinople and Moscow or any other Orthodox Church.

That is simply unfair on your part and it is clear that you intend not to accept my apology at face value. It is also clear that you suspect me, as a "Uniate," to have ulterior motives here in any event.

My statement was not even directed at the Moscow Patriarchate, but to my communion with Rome and my "levity" was directed at the possibility of following suit in connection with my dissatisfcation with Rome's actions on behalf of my Church.

Thus, my statement was completely misunderstood.

I am sorry this has transpired. But neither will I accept what I perceive to be a false interpretation of what I said and my motives behind my saying it.

If I have not proven my irenical attitudes toward Orthodoxy here in the time I've been here, then it is certainly time for me to give up trying.

May God protect you always!

Alex

Alex,

I am sorry you feel that way, but I feel that your remark was uncalled for and in bad taste. I am willing to leave it behind, but my view of the matter remains unchanged.

For me there is nothing to forgive. I am just expressing my view of your remark.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Bless, Father,

As we seem to have hit an impasse, I too will leave this behind and thank you for the blessing of your criticism!

As the Scripture says, it is like oil on the head.

All the best,

Alex

In the words of Prime Minister Macmillan "events, dear boy, events"!

Check dioceseinfo.org for the latest updates - things seem to be moving with some rapidity. No word from Moscow so far, but it's impossible to believe that Moscow will simply ignore this.

Amphipolis, by the way, is a long-vacant diocese in northern Greece - and that too has some interesting implications.

Incognitus

Dear Incognitus,

Yes, I saw that earlier today. It looks like they are in the process of setting up the legal requirement for the new diocese. I also saw the note that at least half the parishes are expected to follow into Bishop Basil's new diocese.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Incognitus,

I do not know how fluent you are in French, but I will link over the Declaration of Archbishop Gabriel of Comana of the Exarchate under the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Russian Parishes in Western Europe. It gives a little of the history along with the announcement of the intregration of Bishop Basil.

Archbishop Gabriel\'s Declaration [exarchat.org]

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Merci beaucoup, mon cher Pere Antoine - je l'ai deja lu.

Incognitus

Mon fr�re Incognitus,

Vous �tes bienvenu. Je n'ai pas su si vous l'aviez vu encore.

Votre fr�re,
Pere Antoine+

Que Dieu te benisse!