Catholic-Orthodox union in fantasy

[Peter_J]

I know of one fantasy novel that involves a Catholic-Orthodox union. Does anyone know of any others? The one I’m thinking of is the novel “Pierced by a Sword”. I won’t get into the overall plot, I just want to quote 2 sections. On p. 94,

Within two months of becoming pope, Angus had the Catholic world distracted by his controversial appointments to various positions within the Vatican. Secretly, Angus was up to his old tricks. In a view he kept to himself, he saw the millennial long Schism between the Roman and Eastern Churches as a problem as scandalous as the Irish Troubles, only writ large. He began to disappear for days at a time, sometimes in disguise. He started using his tremendous language skills to “attack” the leaders of the Eastern Orthodox churches.

He began sending letter, notes, and gifts. He scheduled informal, secret meetings. The new pope saw nothing wrong with calling Eastern leaders for advice, which he found helpful and they found refreshing.

A simple form letter to his Carmelite Army, laser printed on handsome papal stationery, quickly deployed prayer troopers in cloistered battlefronts. He thought peace would take years, even decades, but found his entreaties well received from the get go.

Pope Patrick was just doing his job.

The Eastern Orthodox are mentioned again on pp. 186-187, in a newspaper article about the supposed death of said pope:

Luigi Cardinal Casino said in a press conference held in the Vatican several hours after the tragedy that Pope Patrick, formerly Angus Cardinal O’Hara of Dublin, was an exceptionally gifted leader during his eighteen month reign. He noted that the Vatican would cooperate in the international manhunt to find the pope’s killers, and vowed to continue Pope Patrick’s work to reunite the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Sources within the Vatican report that Cardinal Casino is the most likely replacement for Pope Patrick, and is highly respected in both secular and religious circles.

Observers say that the controversial “Byzantine Protocol”, a formal agreement to reunite the churches for the first time since 1054 A.D., was within months of completion. Casino, fighting back tears, had no comment when asked whether the Byzantine Protocol negotiations would continue on schedule.

 

[MrPip]

I know of one fantasy novel that involves a Catholic-Orthodox union. Does anyone know of any others? The one I’m thinking of is the novel “Pierced by a Sword”.

'Fraid not. Hadn’t even heard about this one until now. How fitting that “Catholic-Orthodox union” should be dealt with in a “fantasy novel”, though. As much as I love fiction, I’ve sworn off of it during Lent. But I’d be overjoyed to see a headline in one of the major newspapers to the effect of “Catholic and Orthodox Churches End 1000 Year Schism!!”
Not that I’m holding my breath or anything…

 

[Peter_J]

How fitting that “Catholic-Orthodox union” should be dealt with in a “fantasy novel”, though.

I don’t think I would make too much of the fact that the novel it’s in is fantasy.

 

[SonCatcher]

'Fraid not. Hadn’t even heard about this one until now. How fitting that “Catholic-Orthodox union” should be dealt with in a “fantasy novel”, though. As much as I love fiction, I’ve sworn off of it during Lent. But I’d be overjoyed to see a headline in one of the major newspapers to the effect of “Catholic and Orthodox Churches End 1000 Year Schism!!”
Not that I’m holding my breath or anything…

Why not? Sometimes it seems like reunification might only happen in fantasy.

Fantasy can actually be quite descriptive of doctrine: Lewis’ Narnia and Perelandra and Tolkien’s Middle Earth are well-known and well-recognized allegorical fantasies.

In a sense, I think Tolkien deals with reunification when Aragorn becomes king of Gondor, restoring the bond between the two kingdoms

 

[patrick457]

Why not? Sometimes it seems like reunification might only happen in fantasy.

Fantasy can actually be quite descriptive of doctrine: Lewis’ Narnia and Perelandra and Tolkien’s Middle Earth are well-known and well-recognized allegorical fantasies.

In a sense, I think Tolkien deals with reunification when Aragorn becomes king of Gondor, restoring the bond between the two kingdoms

Now Tolkien was actually highly sensitive about considering his legendarium to be ‘allegory’. In his letters, one can see he was pretty annoyed with readers trying to find ‘allegorical’ meanings within the merest elements (the One Ring represents nuclear power, Mordor symbolizes the Soviet Union, the five Wizards equals the five senses, etc.) He even wrote: “Other arrangements could be devised according to the tastes or views of those who like allegory or topical reference. But I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse ‘applicability’ with ‘allegory’; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.”

As for Lewis, the Narnia series isn’t also a real allegory: Aslan for instance is not an ‘allegory’ for Jesus, he is supposed to be the one and he same Person that became incarnate in our universe as Jesus Christ.

 

[Peter_J]

Although “Pierced by a Sword” is fantasy, honestly I don’t think the quoted part
is much different from what I often hear from fellow Catholics, namely that the Orthodox would surely admit that our teachings are correct, if only we could ever get them to listen to our explanations.

 

[dcointin]

Although “Pierced by a Sword” is fantasy, honestly I don’t think the quoted part
is much different from what I often hear from fellow Catholics, namely that the Orthodox would surely admit that our teachings are correct, if only we could ever get them to listen to our explanations.

I personally have learned a tremendous amount about Catholic doctrine through reading and dialogue here, and it has changed my opinion about what I believe the differences between our churches truly are. Many of the diatribes I hear now by Orthodox against Catholicism make me cringe, and one in particular is so bad that I couldn’t stand to listen to the entire speech (I can tell you where to find it if you’re interested). I still believe however that our different understandings of the authority and infallibility of the Pope is our biggest difference, and no matter how it’s explained to me (e.g. high vs absolute Petrine distinction), it’s not one I’ve been able to reconcile with my own beliefs.

 

[MrPip]

I personally have learned a tremendous amount about Catholic doctrine through reading and dialogue here, and it has changed my opinion about what I believe the differences between our churches truly are. Many of the diatribes I hear now by Orthodox against Catholicism make me cringe, and one in particular is so bad that I couldn’t stand to listen to the entire speech (I can tell you where to find it if you’re interested). I still believe however that our different understandings of the authority and infallibility of the Pope is our biggest difference, and no matter how it’s explained to me (e.g. high vs absolute Petrine distinction), it’s not one I’ve been able to reconcile with my own beliefs.

Well, if you’d listen to our explanations…!

(It’s a joke–sorry, it was a temptation I couldn’t resist-even during Lent .)