The Debate Over the Declaration of Autocephaly in a Church

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

In a previous article entitled, “The institution of Autocephaly in the Orthodox Church” I presented the basic elements of what autocephaly is and how it functions within the synodical and hierarchical government of the Church, so as to not end up either in papal primacy or in Protestant confederations.

In my present article, which is a sequel to the previous one, I will take up the debate that has been going on over the last few years about how autocephaly is granted, under what conditions it is given, and certainly I shall present the ineffectiveness of these debates and how it is that we have arrived at the current state of affairs in the Ukraine, concerning which the Church of Russia has interrupted ecclesiastical communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Does Canon 15 of the First-Second Synod of 861 Allow for "Walling-Off" Against Ecumenists?

By John Sanidopoulos

According to recent reports, on March 5, 2017, which was the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the well-known anti-ecumenist theologian Fr. Theodore Zisis announced from the ambo of his church that he was ceasing commemoration of Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki. The reason for this is, according to the reports, that in November, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew called upon Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece to defend the documents produced at the Holy and Great Synod of Crete and to quell criticism of them, warning that he would break communion with those individuals who vocally criticized the Synod, after which Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki instructed Fr. Theodore to cease expressing any open criticisms of the Synod. Fr. Theodore's main criticism had to do with the document “Relations of the Orthodox Church with the Rest of the Christian World,” which he claims leaves open the possibility for the Orthodox accepting a heretical ecclesiology based on the "pan-heresy" of ecumenism. For this reason he calls the Great and Holy Synod of Crete a "Pseudo-Synod" or "Robber Synod", and he wants to be vocal about this. This act of Fr. Theodore was preceded by Fr. Nicholas Manolis, who some weeks ago also ceased commemorating Metropolitan Anthimos for the same reasoning.

The Heresy Tackled at the Holy and Great Synod

By Archbishop Anastasios of Albania

I think it is useful to recall that the Holy and Great Synod is not an exact copy of the Ecumenical Synods, nor is it a facsimile of Assemblies of the Western Christian tradition. Adapted to the circumstances and possibilities of the 21st century it has its own characteristics. It remains however as a tangible and clear symbol of unity of the Orthodox and a valuable institution for its life and witness in the contemporary world. There are some who believe that only an exact repetition of Synods of the past are authentically Orthodox. But the Holy Spirit does not act only in one era. He remains the determinant guide of the Church throughout the course of time. "Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together" (Apolytikion for Palm Sunday)....

Church and Churches in Relation to the Holy and Great Synod (4 of 4)

...continued from part three.

Church and Churches?

Reactionaries refer to and invoke the Symbol of Faith and claim that the phrase "In One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" means solely the Orthodox Church.

What response to this is given once again by the Professor of Dogmatics John Karmires. Interpreting this phrase in the Symbol of Faith, he says the following: "Thus all Christians consider themselves to belong to the vast meaning of the Church, perceiving to belong to the body of Christ, which is one, since the Church is one, as defined in the sacred Symbol of Faith of Nicaea-Constantinople. It appears ... to be obvious that the heteredox belong to their substantial one united Church, by which they are perhaps capable of salvation."[40]

Church and Churches in Relation to the Holy and Great Synod (3 of 4)

...continued from part two.

So What are the Limits/Boundaries of this Church?

In regards to the fixing of the "boundaries" of the Church, there is no official judgment of the Church.[29] The problem is even bigger, when some claim that the canonical boundaries are identical with the charismatic boundaries of the Church. And the subject pushes even further, when the canonical and charismatic boundaries are made to be identical, limiting it only within the boundaries of the Orthodox Church. This implies a denial of the character of the Church, as well as the energy/activity of the Holy Spirit and divine grace outside of the canonical boundaries of the Orthodox Church, and therefore in all heterodox Churches, who are not in full communion with Orthodoxy, and the entire world in general! In consequence this supports the concept of exclusivity not only for the jurisdictional canonical boundaries of the Orthodox Church, but it rejects the possibility of God's actions, Who desires the universal salvation of the world. A complete teaching of exclusion from salvation of those people alive who are outside the Church is not taught in the New Testament, "and therefore lacks the most authoritative feature and support of all Orthodox doctrine, countering the essential and apostolic and fundamental for salvation teachings of the Christian religion."[30]

Church and Churches in Relation to the Holy and Great Synod (2 of 4)

...continued from part one.

The Holy Trinity as the Beginning and Source of the Church

Thus the Church as a Mystery, which has her heavenly origins in the Triune God, "before all ages", exceeds every definition. The Church has her source and beginning from the same Triune God before all ages. "And the books of the Apostles plainly declare that the Church exists not now for the first time, but has been from the beginning: for she was spiritual, as our Jesus also was spiritual, but was manifested in the last days that He might save us."[14]

Church and Churches in Relation to the Holy and Great Synod (1 of 4)

By Dr. Gregory Larentzakis

(Professor at the University of Graz)

The multiple negative reactions of some to the Holy and Great Synod in general or to specific positions found in the texts also have a positive element. They give the occasion or rather the challenge for responses, which not only reveal that their arguments are unfounded and that they are motivated by fanaticism, but they give the opportunity for an Orthodox formulation of our faith without prejudices and arguments.

The various negative reactions by ascribing the term "Church" to heterodox Churches proves indeed that this apologetic attitude completely ignores the consequences of their claim. They even claim that this is the theology of the saints and the holy fathers and the sacred canons of our Church!

Answers to Questions About the Holy and Great Synod 2016

Social media and news organizations have reported confusion in advance of the convening of the Holy and Great Synod. This Q&A is offered to help clarify the process and governance of the Holy and Great Synod.

The Theological Problem With the Phrase "Value of the Human Person"

On March 5, 2016 Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos issued a letter to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, requesting that certain phrases and terms be changed or deleted from two issued texts to be discussed at the Holy and Great Synod in June 2016. The text titled "The Mission of the Orthodox Church in the Modern World" contains some problematic phrases related to divine and human personhood, which contradict the patristic understanding of the term "person". After stating the changes that should be made, he concludes by issuing a summary of the theological justification for this change, which has been translated below.

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

In order to justify the proposal that the phrase “value of the human person” be replaced by the phrase “value of the human being” and that the phrase “communion of persons reflecting the communion of Divine Persons” be deleted, the following theological positions will be pointed out:

Concerning the Synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches

By His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos

of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

From March 6-9, 2014 there took place in Constantinople the Synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches which was followed by a festive Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, during which the Message of the Synaxis was read that referred to contemporary happenings that create problems in countries and among people. At the Divine Liturgy representatives of the third according to order Patriarchate of Antioch did not attend.

I do not know exactly what happened and what was discussed at the Conferences, but I was informed just like the entire fullness of the Church from printed and electronic media. I hope at some point there will be an update for the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece, so that as responsible Hierarchs we will have a certain knowledge of such issues concerning the life of the Church.

Despite my absence, with the most up-to-date knowledge I will record my thoughts on the critical issues from the texts I read.