Orthodox: What is your opinion of Kirill I of Moscow?

[Kosta]

I believe that there are significant divisions among the orthodox patriarchs. I am pretty certain that kiril I is not in communion with the patriarch of Constantinople. I am unsure of wheher the Coptic pope considers himself in communion with the patriarchs of Moscow and Constantinople.

regarding my opinion of kiril I, I really know so little about him. I recognize that dealing with the Russian government may cause him to act in a way that we in the west or the middle east find questionable, although I think it would be better to call it mysterious because dealing with Russian history, customs and politics seems to be quite different from dealing with more western cultures and governments.

I have no desire or intention to criticize kiril I or any of the other orthodox patriarchs and bishops. mostly because I have so little substantive knowledge of them or their teachings and actions.

I do believe that, just like the RC bishops, most of them are sincere and intent upon building the Kingdom of God in the hearts of His human creatures. I would say the same about most religious leaders. I do not believe there is a high percentage of scalawags among Christianity’s leaders. they are mostly men of deep faith in Jesus Christ who are limited by their own life experiences from discerning accurately and completely the essential truths given us by the Lord Jesus.

I believe, in the end, that most of the differences among Christian religious leaders come from our own lack of knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

we all believe the same faith. we just do not all grasp it to the same degrees. but, on one point we do all agree. Jesus is our Lord, our Savior and our Redeemer.

in this sense, what we agree on is far more important and significant than our disagreements.

His Holiness, Theodore II, the Pope of Alexandria is Oriental Orthodox, so no, he is not nor does he consider himself to a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church, of which His All Holiness & His Beatitude are part of. As for whether each Patriarch personally considers himself in communion with each other, that’s a question none of us can answer since we don’t know what the either is thinking. There is no official document saying that communion has been severed, and even if there was, it’s not like a priest is going to refuse a member of either Church at the chalice.

I agree with just about everything else you said. It’s not easy being a churchman under the circumstances on an illiberal democracy sliding into autocracy and economic ruin where the leader wants to use your influence for his own personal good. I do not envy his Beatitude: I ought to pray for him extra hard.

I never glossed over the injustices Rome has hoisted on Eastern Catholics or anyone else. You seem to be equating all Catholics into one anti-Orthodox group. I brought up His Holiness and the ROC because that is the topic of this thread. I believe it is hypocritical to ask Catholics and Rome to apologize for every atrocity, perceived or otherwise, when the same isn’t reciprocated by Moscow or most any other EO Church.

Truth be told, this forum doesn’t help. I try to make a distinction between people I meet on the street and people I occasionally interact with online, but still, I find myself frustrated at many things said here.

I suppose I forgot that His Beatitude was the subject of this topic, my apologies.

How many other Orthodox Churches ever wrought injustice upon the Roman Catholic Church? I really doubt the the Churches of Alexandria, Poland, Japan, Estonia, Antioch, or Romania have much of anything to apologize for.

 

[Seraphim73]

His Holiness, Theodore II, the Pope of Alexandria is Oriental Orthodox, so no, he is not nor does he consider himself to a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church, of which His All Holiness & His Beatitude are part of. As for whether each Patriarch personally considers himself in communion with each other, that’s a question none of us can answer since we don’t know what the either is thinking. There is no official document saying that communion has been severed, and even if there was, it’s not like a priest is going to refuse a member of either Church at the chalice.

Well there is a document. It’s called the diptychs. And both the Patriarch of Moscow and the Ecumenical Patriarch are in the diptychs. So there are most definitely in communion. And yes to the original poster the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox are two separate Churches. So of course they are not in communion.

 

[SyroMalankara]

How many other Orthodox Churches ever wrought injustice upon the Roman Catholic Church? I really doubt the the Churches of Alexandria, Poland, Japan, Estonia, Antioch, or Romania have much of anything to apologize for.

If apologies are being requested, certainly the OO have claims against EO in Alexandria, Antioch, Armenia, and certain other overlapping areas; and against RCs in these and other areas. There are enough apologies to go around… and around… and around

 

[Kosta]

Well there is a document. It’s called the diptychs. And both the Patriarch of Moscow and the Ecumenical Patriarch are in the diptychs. So there are most definitely in communion. And yes to the original poster the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox are two separate Churches. So of course they are not in communion.

Huh, you know I’ve only ever heard about the diptychs in regards to early/mid Byzantine history. I didn’t know that such a system is still around nearly a thousand years later. I’m glad I got to learn something today: thanks.

 

[Seraphim73]

Huh, you know I’ve only ever heard about the diptychs in regards to early/mid Byzantine history. I didn’t know that such a system is still around nearly a thousand years later. I’m glad I got to learn something today: thanks.

Yes indeed. The diptychs is recited every time a primate serves the Liturgy.

 

[Proton]

Folks from all sides comment about our new pope, Francis.

But only a few years earlier, Kirill I was installed as Patriarch of Moscow.

What do you think of him after five years?

He is good Patriarch, he is traveling a lot around Russia and really trying to make the revive of the Russian Church even faster. He is also demonized by some western media. But west is in bad relations with Russia now, so it is natural to demonize each other.

Some accuse him for being anti-ecumenist. But believe me, if Patriarch of Constantinople had 150 millions believers on his side with big military like Cyiril has, and not only 4000 discriminated Greeks in Constantinople, he would be much lesser pro-ecumenist, i am sure, same goes for other 3 Apostolic Patriarchal sees (Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem)