Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople rebukes Moscow, underlines importance of ties with Rome [CWN]
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chimo
Guest
It will bring great joy to Christianity when finally all the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs and the Holy Father will meet together. Perhaps this dialogue with the Russian Patriarch is still resisting ties with Rome because of difficulties between Catholics and the Orthodox within Russia and the Ukraine. Been the largest body of Orthodox believers does not give Moscow more authority in matters of Ecumenical matters. I think the Russian situation will need to wait until better able Bishops have the capacity to understand how important Ecumenical ties are perhaps in another generation or two. The situation in Orthodoxy must be confusing to a Catholic. For instance you do not see the Brazilian Catholic Church resisting Ecumenical ties even though it is one of the largest Catholic bodies within a country. The Orthodox situation because it does not have this first principal government like Rome has this capability for certain Orthodox bodies within each country to react differently to a worthy cause.
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Cavaradossi
Guest
I’m afraid that the author of the article misunderstood the Ecumenical Patriarch. The keynote address says: “Another area where the Ecumenical Patriarchate has developed initiatives and continues to play a leading role is in the reconciliation among Christians and other religions. This area of activities by the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the target of an ongoing diabolical campaign and slander in certain circles, who claim that we supposedly betray the Orthodox faith.”
That remark seems to be directed against the Old Calendarists (who are considered schismatics), and probably against some very particular detractors of the Ecumenical Patriarch (Met. Seraphim of Piraeus comes to mind) within the Church of Greece (who are nevertheless in good standing with the Church and neither schismatics nor heretics, since they do not break union with the EP over his perceived shortcomings). The likelihood that it is directed against the entire Russian Orthodox Church to me seems very slim, considering that the Russian Orthodox Church does not oppose ecumenism outright (otherwise it would not have a bishop officially placed in charge of ecumenical relations), nor does it accuse (to my knowledge at least) His All-Holiness of “betray[ing] the Orthodox faith.”
That remark seems to be directed against the Old Calendarists (who are considered schismatics), and probably against some very particular detractors of the Ecumenical Patriarch (Met. Seraphim of Piraeus comes to mind) within the Church of Greece (who are nevertheless in good standing with the Church and neither schismatics nor heretics, since they do not break union with the EP over his perceived shortcomings). The likelihood that it is directed against the entire Russian Orthodox Church to me seems very slim, considering that the Russian Orthodox Church does not oppose ecumenism outright (otherwise it would not have a bishop officially placed in charge of ecumenical relations), nor does it accuse (to my knowledge at least) His All-Holiness of “betray[ing] the Orthodox faith.”
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prodromos
Guest
It is nice to see that the author has not made the mistake of calling HH Bartholomew the “leader of the Orthodox Church”. That was refreshing to see in the media for a change 
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