B
Bishop_Gavrilo
Guest
About the issue of canonicity:
I find the whole issue both annoying and somewhat unbiblical.
The Eastern Orthodoxy of today is virtually poisoned with the “canonical - un-canonical (non-canonical)” question. Honestly, it is a complete twisting and perversion of the Cyprian theory and I am convinced St. Cyprian had no idea where his work would lead Orthodoxy seventeen hundred years later. Now, as I once was a trial lawyer, I can roll up my sleeves and get down to the discussion about canonicity of Old Calendarist movement and utter uncanonicity of all New Calendar Orthodoxy (i.e. the so called World Orthodoxy), and lay out all ourr arguments, etc. After all, our theologians and bishops had almost a hundred years to refine our arguments against the New Calendar changes, just like theirs did. And I would tell you that numbers are of no importance, that there once was a Jewish rabbi with but a handful of faithfful around him, and everyone persecuted them, and yet they were right and everyone else was wrong. But, seeking wisdom, I have to ask: will such endless arguments lead us anywhere? Anywhere nice, that is?
To take it further, I have met many times the prevailing RCC approach: “Your are all uncanonical, why do you fight and argue among yourselves? In oder to be canonical, you must unite with the See of Rome.”
To add another issue, I refuse to be blind to the fact that the Holy Spirit obviously flows and does miracles in Old Calendarist movement of Eastern Orthodoxy, in World Orthodoxy, but also in Oriental Orthodoxy and for certain in the RCC. I have investigated some of the most famous ones and I came to the conclusion it was the wonderwork of the Holy Spirit. So, with my head bowed down, I acknowledge the Holy Spirit flows where He sees fit.
And by the way, there is a moderate stream in both Oldd Calndarist movement and World Orthodoxy alikee interpreting the Cyprianic theory of Apostolic Succession and Holy Mysteries as follows: an Orthodox bishop being part of Orthodoxy (not excommunicated, not runaway from the Holy Church etc.) (no mention of OldCal/NewCal) saying the proper words and forming the proper intent and having proper material(s) and not being currently burdened by a mortal sin ALWAYS effectuates (not makes, not forces, but rather becoming a channel of sorts) the flowing of the Holy Spirit, which in turn is the materialization of the specific Holy Mystery in our world (Eucharist, Forgiveness of Sins, etc.). The theory of canonical churches in communion with the so called Ecumenical Patriarch and churches not being in communion with him (whih, in turn, were labelled “uncanonical” despite the holy canons do not define any such thing, at least not in these terms) ar a relatively modern ecclesiological theory (in terms of the twenty centuries of existence of Orthodoxy).
Whenever there is a meeting with some priests and they get into the ugly business of who is canonical in their opinion and who is not, and who was but is not anymore, I always tell them: careful, very careful please. Let the Holy Spirit sort that out, if He at all finds such a theory important enough. I preach to be respectful and kind to RCC and to Oriental Orthodox (not in communion with Old Calendarists OR New Calendarists).
That is why I do not share the opinion of those who accused me here of stealing away and separating faithful from their canonical bishops and their community. How can a Holy Mystery (sacrament, in Catholic terms) dispensed in accord with the holy canons by an Orthodox bishop ever separate a Christian from the Body of Christ? I mean, if this one time was the last time I ever see the poor soul who wanted to receive the Eucharist Christ in my Divine Liturgy or wanted to confess his/her sins to our Father in Heaven, and (s)h wants to continue going …wherever, I cannot do anything about it. And why should I? Jeleousy is a mortal sin. So is envy, so is pride. I will rather thank the Holy Spirit in humbleness in my evening prayer that he found me worthy enough to send a soul thirsting for His mysteries to me, a servant full of flaws.
I mean, HH John Paul II writes somewhere that although not in perfect union, the Eastern Christians who have valid Eucharist are all part of One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church and through the celebration of Eucharist they are in a larger communion. Thus, if we are all part of the larger Eucharist communion… Now do not misunderstand me, one must never belead to indifferentism. But larger Eucharist communion, sharing in the beautiful Mystery of the Risen Christ, that is unique accord that can only come from one divine source.
Please, do share your thoughts, richly!
Blessings,
+Gavrilo
I find the whole issue both annoying and somewhat unbiblical.
The Eastern Orthodoxy of today is virtually poisoned with the “canonical - un-canonical (non-canonical)” question. Honestly, it is a complete twisting and perversion of the Cyprian theory and I am convinced St. Cyprian had no idea where his work would lead Orthodoxy seventeen hundred years later. Now, as I once was a trial lawyer, I can roll up my sleeves and get down to the discussion about canonicity of Old Calendarist movement and utter uncanonicity of all New Calendar Orthodoxy (i.e. the so called World Orthodoxy), and lay out all ourr arguments, etc. After all, our theologians and bishops had almost a hundred years to refine our arguments against the New Calendar changes, just like theirs did. And I would tell you that numbers are of no importance, that there once was a Jewish rabbi with but a handful of faithfful around him, and everyone persecuted them, and yet they were right and everyone else was wrong. But, seeking wisdom, I have to ask: will such endless arguments lead us anywhere? Anywhere nice, that is?
To take it further, I have met many times the prevailing RCC approach: “Your are all uncanonical, why do you fight and argue among yourselves? In oder to be canonical, you must unite with the See of Rome.”
To add another issue, I refuse to be blind to the fact that the Holy Spirit obviously flows and does miracles in Old Calendarist movement of Eastern Orthodoxy, in World Orthodoxy, but also in Oriental Orthodoxy and for certain in the RCC. I have investigated some of the most famous ones and I came to the conclusion it was the wonderwork of the Holy Spirit. So, with my head bowed down, I acknowledge the Holy Spirit flows where He sees fit.
And by the way, there is a moderate stream in both Oldd Calndarist movement and World Orthodoxy alikee interpreting the Cyprianic theory of Apostolic Succession and Holy Mysteries as follows: an Orthodox bishop being part of Orthodoxy (not excommunicated, not runaway from the Holy Church etc.) (no mention of OldCal/NewCal) saying the proper words and forming the proper intent and having proper material(s) and not being currently burdened by a mortal sin ALWAYS effectuates (not makes, not forces, but rather becoming a channel of sorts) the flowing of the Holy Spirit, which in turn is the materialization of the specific Holy Mystery in our world (Eucharist, Forgiveness of Sins, etc.). The theory of canonical churches in communion with the so called Ecumenical Patriarch and churches not being in communion with him (whih, in turn, were labelled “uncanonical” despite the holy canons do not define any such thing, at least not in these terms) ar a relatively modern ecclesiological theory (in terms of the twenty centuries of existence of Orthodoxy).
Whenever there is a meeting with some priests and they get into the ugly business of who is canonical in their opinion and who is not, and who was but is not anymore, I always tell them: careful, very careful please. Let the Holy Spirit sort that out, if He at all finds such a theory important enough. I preach to be respectful and kind to RCC and to Oriental Orthodox (not in communion with Old Calendarists OR New Calendarists).
That is why I do not share the opinion of those who accused me here of stealing away and separating faithful from their canonical bishops and their community. How can a Holy Mystery (sacrament, in Catholic terms) dispensed in accord with the holy canons by an Orthodox bishop ever separate a Christian from the Body of Christ? I mean, if this one time was the last time I ever see the poor soul who wanted to receive the Eucharist Christ in my Divine Liturgy or wanted to confess his/her sins to our Father in Heaven, and (s)h wants to continue going …wherever, I cannot do anything about it. And why should I? Jeleousy is a mortal sin. So is envy, so is pride. I will rather thank the Holy Spirit in humbleness in my evening prayer that he found me worthy enough to send a soul thirsting for His mysteries to me, a servant full of flaws.
I mean, HH John Paul II writes somewhere that although not in perfect union, the Eastern Christians who have valid Eucharist are all part of One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church and through the celebration of Eucharist they are in a larger communion. Thus, if we are all part of the larger Eucharist communion… Now do not misunderstand me, one must never belead to indifferentism. But larger Eucharist communion, sharing in the beautiful Mystery of the Risen Christ, that is unique accord that can only come from one divine source.
Please, do share your thoughts, richly!
Blessings,
+Gavrilo
