Pope Francis: I seek communion with Orthodox Churches

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The Orthodox I’ve met are nationalistic, and put numerous charges against the church without looking at the faults of their church; unification sounds great at first. But will it happen in my lifetime? Probably not, knowing the Orthodox who live in my town.
 
I wonder if a common enemy, like the militant, violent type of Islamic extremism we are facing now, could cause our Churches to see past our differences and realize that we are stronger if we support each other. United we stand, divided we fall. There would still be doctrinal differences to work through, and old misunderstandings and wounds to heal, but at least we might come to see the futility of viewing each other with suspicion in light of this greater threat.
 
Can anyone tell me what the doctrinal differences are between the two or the main reasons why they aren’t in communion with each other?
 
JackieO123 said:
The Orthodox I’ve met are nationalistic, and put numerous charges against the church without looking at the faults of their church; unification sounds great at first. But will it happen in my lifetime? Probably not, knowing the Orthodox who live in my town.
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I agree.

I’ve meet Orthodox from various parts of the world who immigrated here, but don’t attend Mass at one of the other Orthodox Churches, because they are of a different nationality then their own and they don’t have a Church from their own culture to attend.

Jim
 
From a simple read of history I think the nationalistic bent of Orthodoxy might indeed be a huge factor. I mean, if Orthodox communities cannot unite with each other how in the world are they going to unite with the RCC?

Also, think about the HUGE divisions that exist between the Croats and the Serbs that would have to be overcome for Catholics and Orthodox to unite.

Having said that, it will never happen unless someone starts the ball rolling. So praise God Pope Francis is at least trying!!
 
Yes, I think the Orthodox follow* (I mean truly follow) *Christianity about as inconsistently as the rest of us. There are serious problems with nationalism. And of course the Pope issue. Another thing, and I could be wrong about this, but it seems like the Orthodox play a little faster and looser with theology, doctrine, which has a good and bad side. It is certainly not an oasis of pure or “high” Christianity that many fantasize that it is. I think it’s just like any other denomination - it is up to the individual to witness it truthfully. A true Christian is a true Christian, end of story.

That said, I would love to see the Churches unite, but we already are pretty close. (Perhaps we should just be thankful for that.) I don’t see the major differences fading away or softening.
 
Seraphim73 said:
Examples?
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I am referencing this line of Orthodox thinking/belief:

The Roman Catholic Church, starting with Augustine, has removed the mystical experience (revelation) of God (theoria) from Christianity and replaced it with the conceptualization of revelation through the philosophical speculation of metaphysics.

I intend no disrespect. I personally have “Orthodox” and “Roman Catholic” days if you will. My point is that it seems like the Othodox fall back on “mystery” rather than philosophical speculation and development of theology. Right now, for whatever reason, I am feeling pretty “Orthodox” so am having trouble coming up with good reasons why that is bad. 🙂
 
FollowChrist34 said:
I am referencing this line of Orthodox thinking/belief:

The Roman Catholic Church, starting with Augustine, has removed the mystical experience (revelation) of God (theoria) from Christianity and replaced it with the conceptualization of revelation through the philosophical speculation of metaphysics.

I intend no disrespect. I personally have “Orthodox” and “Roman Catholic” days if you will. My point is that it seems like the Othodox fall back on “mystery” rather than philosophical speculation and development of theology. Right now, for whatever reason, I am feeling pretty “Orthodox” so am having trouble coming up with good reasons why that is bad. 🙂
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I took no offense. I was just curious is all. 🙂
 
Popes always get this impression when they start talking to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Then they get other members of the communion like the Patriarch of Moscow refusing to be seen together with the Pope and then the catholics get back down to earth on this issue.
 
If you read the article, it seems Pope Francis is saying unification will come by us professing the same creed (I guess he is talking about the Nicene Creed) which we already do and not through assimilation of the Churches.
 
boar2roar said:
Popes always get this impression when they start talking to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Then they get other members of the communion like the Patriarch of Moscow refusing to be seen together with the Pope and then the catholics get back down to earth on this issue.
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That has pretty much been my impression as well.
 
The Pope has already met with head of the Department for External Church Relations and he presented the Pope with a beautiful icon. The only higher level meeting that could occur would be with the Patriarch himself.

https://mospat.ru/wp-content/upload...ntent/uploads/2013/03/12.jpg&w=632&h=380&q=95

https://mospat.ru/wp-content/upload...s/2014/10/01184_17102014.jpg&w=632&h=380&q=95

https://mospat.ru/wp-content/upload...ntent/uploads/2013/03/41.jpg&w=632&h=380&q=95

So relations aren’t as frosty as some think.
 
FollowChrist34 said:
Yes, I think the Orthodox follow* (I mean truly follow) *Christianity about as inconsistently as the rest of us. There are serious problems with nationalism. And of course the Pope issue. Another thing, and I could be wrong about this, but it seems like the Orthodox play a little faster and looser with theology, doctrine, which has a good and bad side. It is certainly not an oasis of pure or “high” Christianity that many fantasize that it is. I think it’s just like any other denomination - it is up to the individual to witness it truthfully. A true Christian is a true Christian, end of story.

That said, I would love to see the Churches unite, but we already are pretty close. (Perhaps we should just be thankful for that.) I don’t see the major differences fading away or softening.
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Keep in mind that while the Orthodox are from the Eastern aspect of the Catholic Church, there are 20+ Eastern rite Churches in union with Rome, which also share in the Eastern approach to theology.

From what little I observe, it would look like the Greek Orthodox would be more likely to work for unity than Russian Orthodox. And that, in turn, might in part hinge upon introspection re: history, particularly since the early 1900’s.
 
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