Re-chrismation in Eastern Orthodoxy - why?

[HomeschoolDad]

If you ever get to Istanbul, please check out the only Byzantine Catholic church in the city and post pictures on CAF when you return.

I might do that. It is very possible that I will be spending a month in Europe in 2022, and I am trying to decide whether to stay put in one place (Paris) or pack up and travel to a different place every week or so (one suitcase and a backpack). It is very common in Europe for people to make one- or two-day excursions to points throughout the continent, made easy by cheap flights, unlike in the US. The airliners are very no-frills (RyanAir et al), but then again, comfort isn’t really something that matters when you’re flying for two hours to a very desirable destination.

It would be wonderful indeed, if Istanbul were still Constantinople, still apostolic Christian, with the Eastern churches in communion with Rome and acknowledging her primacy of honor while maintaining autonomy. Sadly, the deplorable incidents of 1204 can’t be undone.

 

[OrbisNonSufficit]

Sadly, the deplorable incidents of 1204 can’t be undone.

Let’s hope they can. It would be pretty sad if bunch of excommunicated Crusaders ruined chance for communion for more than 800 years.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Sadly, the deplorable incidents of 1204 can’t be undone.

Well, that’s pretty much what they did. Sin has a “blowback” factor.

We might do well to think how we would view it, if for instance, a Byzantine army under Orthodox auspices had (for whatever reason) invaded and sacked Rome, gone raping and pillaging, and come in and trashed St Peter’s Basilica, demolishing the art in the Sistine Chapel, destroying altars and relics, and so on — all the while claiming that they were the One True Church outside of which no one at all is saved.

That would be kind of hard to get past.