www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology A few questions on Orthodox from a curious Protestant

Memo,

I don't want to assume things about you, but from the way you write, you seem to get your opinions about Orthodoxy from RC apologists such as Steve Ray and Dave Armstrong, who write much like you do.

Where do you get the idea that there aren't many pan-orthodox consenses?

The Orthodox called the Pan Orthodox Synod of 1923 that settled for the time being such issues as remarriage of clergy and marriage after ordination.

The Orthodox don't see a need to call an Ecumenical Council right now.

I'd suggest you read Fr. Meyendorff's articles on conciliar authority in Orthodoxy.

As far as a Latin ecumenical council being nullified, it has happened before, in that the 879/880 Photian Schism annulled the 869/870 council, but was then itself anulled or "forgotten" 200 years later by the Gregorian Canonists. This was the council that anathematized the filioque, and was signed by Pope John VIII.

To know more about how Latins annulled an Ecumenical Council and then pretended it never existed, read, "The Photian Schism" by Francis Dvornik (RC), available through interlibrary loan.

in Christ,

anastasios

Hello:


Since when Truth is subject to "concensus"?


I agree, partially. Schism and heresy is something that has plagued the Church since the very begining. These two were particularly insidious in the East during the first Christian millenium and in the West during the second.

I think that currently, schism is pretty much under control in the Catholic Church and heresy is very easy to identify in both Churches.

I am not sure what do you mean by a "theological schism", I was under the impression that schism, by its very nature was a jurisdictional phenomenon and NOT a theological one.

And the Orthodox won't really like to discuss the current state of affairs regarding schism and jurisdictional conflicts in the Orthodox Church with a prospect convert, would you?


And I agree, without pretending to compare the solidity, complexity and completeness of the doctrinal and moral systems of the West and the East.


Details such as...? Aren't these all little "details"?

As for my statements being half-true, you are free to present the other half.

As for their being tendentious, well, yes, of course. I have the tendency to believe in the Catholic Church and her teachings. In the rare cases when these teachings differ from those from Orthodoxy, I stay with the Catholic Church. Isn't that understandable?

As for their being highly prejudiced, what can I say? If they are true, then they are true; if not, they're not.


Fully agree. Lots of prayer, too.

Shalom,
Memo.

Memo,

I am neither Orthodox or Catholic, so you will have to explain to me what you mean by schisms within contemporary canonical Orthodoxy.

And please do not include the many vagante Orthodox groups that are as many and bizarre as the multiple vagante Catholic groups.

Consensus?

I believe the Orthodox would say that consensus does not determine the "Truth" but expresses the "Truth."

Hello:


Ukraine, ROCA, Macedonia (recently healed), The very irregular position of Serbia with respect to the MP and ROCA, Western-Rite Antiochene Parishes.

Let's face it. Schism is a reality in contemporary Orthodoxy.

Now, I didn't miss the "canonical" qualifier you're using, but I couldn't make sense of it, because of course, Schism cannot be canonical.

Shalom,
Memo.

The Orthodox deserve credit for working very hard, under sometimes difficult conditions, to heal the wounds of separation of the last century.

I am old enough to remember when there were serious rifts within Orthodoxy that seemed beyond healing, especially within the quirky world of American Orthodox jurisdictionalism.

Todays "schisms" (which some Orthodox theologians might not consider schisms) are minor in comparison to the stormy past. And the number of souls affected by these "schisms" are in the low numbers, relative to the past.


God bless the beautiful and courageous Orthodox family of Christ.


Of course, all sincere Christians can't help but rejoice in the reunion aspirations of the Chalcedonian Orthodox and their Oriental Orthodox sister churches.

Doxa tou Theou!

MI