A powerful
message with multiple recipients within
all the Churches was sent out by the
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the
matter of the ecumenical dialogue.
Addressing the Patriarch of Bulgaria
Neophytos who is currently on a peaceful
visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
Patriarch Bartholomew said among other
things that he neither betrays
Orthodoxy, nor does he pursue ecumenist
ideas, as it has been said.
"With this tactic
(the dialogue)
we are not betraying Orthodoxy,
as we have been accused, nor do we
support ecumenist perceptions;
rather, we preach to the heterodox
and to everyone the Orthodox truth",
he stated characteristically.
The Ecumenical Patriarch
made an extensive reference to the
reactions that exist on the matter of
the theological dialogue, both in
Bulgaria and in other countries, noting
that these actions aspire to a mutual
understanding and in time acceptance, "by
the heterodox of the one Orthodox faith".
"They
(the dialogues)
do not aspire - as was written in
both Bulgaria and elsewhere - to the
creation of one, mutually accepted
'aggregate' of beliefs. That
is, there is no attempt through this
so-called ecumenical movement to
attain the acceptance of one
'Christian syncretistic confession';
only a deeper penetration into the
Christian Orthodox faith and the
communal collaboration of all those
who invoke the name of Christ",
stressed Patriarch
Bartholomew.
He also
added that:
"We Orthodox, who possess the
fullness of the Truth, are not
afraid - as it is thought - that we
shall be influenced by the views of
our heterodox brethren on dogmatic
issues."
THE PROBLEMS OF A GREAT SYNOD
The Ecumenical Patriarch did not omit to
also mention the serious problems in the
relations between Orthodox Churches -
problems that have often impeded the
course towards the convening of a Holy
and Great Synod, that is, the convening
of a Council comprised of all the
Prelates who would be discussing matters
of common interest.
"Of late, however, these conditions have
improved, and the desire for a greater
unity and collaboration has matured.
This has been attributed to many,
humanly unforeseen, imponderable
factors, as well as to the
preparation of the Holy and Great
Synod of our Orthodox Church, whose
preparation - albeit bringing out
points of disagreement - also
brought out and has proven the
desire to transcend predicaments and
to tighten the indissoluble and
sincere spiritual bonds that
unbreakably unite all the Orthodox
Churches - to each other, and to the
first among them, the Ecumenical
Patriarchate"
said the Patriarch.
The Ecumenical Patriarch
stressed that the local Orthodox
Churches are all united, around the
common Chalice, and that individual
disagreements do not negate their unity.
"As such, it is our estimation
that the efforts dedicated for
bridging the differences between
Orthodox Churches are not efforts to
achieve an otherwise already
existent and unshakeable unity, but
rather, efforts for further
deepening and solidification
thereof, as well as the achievement
of a feasibly uniform handling of
the various issues that arise." he
added.
Translation: A.N.
