By: Auth

Auth — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 04:34:27 +0000

The meeting could be a way for the parctarihs of Moscow and Constantinople to establish common ground on two issues of crucial importance: administration of the Orthodox churches in North America, and resolving the schism of the Orthodox churches in Ukraine. These two issues have deepened the fissure between the two patriarchates, and their peaceful resolution would allow all involved to move forward.Unity among Orthodox in North America has long been desired by laity and, for the most part, has ended with disappointment. The non-US parctarihs have already made moves to change the North American scene by establishing a new episcopal council, which replaces, and mostly duplicates, SCOBA. If the Orthodox could achieve any real unity here, in North America, and pool resources for theological education, dialogue, translations, and so on, it would only benefit Catholic-Orthodox, and indeed all, ecumenical dialogue.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:04:17 +0000

I wish the patriarch well. I hope that he guides the flock with wisdom. He certainly has a lot of work to do. Russian society is not spiritually or morally strong -- or stable. It will take generations to undo the damage of the last century. However, I am concerned, as Patriarch-elect Kirill has voiced some disturbing opinions over the years in odd, secular (namely, Hegelian) language. He is fond of using the word "contradiction" in the Marxist sense. Perhaps, anyone educated in the Soviet regime shares those habits of vocabulary, but they make me nervous, all the same -- especially when he buddies up with atheist dictators on foreign trips. Moreover, he has been Russia's chief ecumenical liason for two decades. I do not wish to offend anyone, but I do not look to the WCC's favorite Orthodox bishops with much hope for a robust defense of the faith. I hope that his work has all been a matter of ecclesial diplomacy. Political and diplomatic cleverness are dangerous in the wicked, but quite useful in the good. Be wise as serpents, right? If his heart and mind are in the right place, he can be a powerful tool for God. He is bright, diplomatic, and apparently hard-working. If Patriach Alexy's role was to stabilize and reunite the Russian Church after the fall of the Communists, perhaps Patriarch Kirill will actually help it take root in the heart of every Russian. There is much to harvest. Joseph

Comments on: Met. Kirill named Patriarch of Russian Orthodox Church

By: Auth

By: Joseph