Ecumenism and Church Leaders (Teachings of the Orthodox Church) Christianity. Orthodoxy. Catholicism. Sense of life. Articles for Christians.
“I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.                “You shall have no other gods before me.                “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.                “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.                “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labor six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.                “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.                “You shall not murder.                “You shall not commit adultery.                “You shall not steal.                “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.                “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
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Ecumenism and Church Leaders (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)
   

QUESTION:

I am wondering what is the position of the patriarchs and bishops with regards to that ecumenical movement. I have heard disturbing reports that the leaders of our church are fanatical in wanting a union with pope and other religions. This really shocks but doesn't surprise me. They know very well that the only chance for unity will come if the heretics come back to the orthodox church. This will not happen so why are they wasting their time?!

I remember the words of St. Kosmas and Neilos about clergymen that most will be totally ignorant of what is right and wrong in the last days. This is apparently being fulfilled now. Can you shed some light on this as to the current situation of this.

Also could you tell me when the book Be watchful that no one decieves you by Priestmonk Christodoulos will come out if you've heard of it. He wrote a book on Elder Paisios already. This new book is on what will happen in the future based on the writings of Paisios and others.

ANSWER:

I might begin by stating that there are a lot of rumors circulating on this issue, not the least of which is the rumor that the leaders of the Orthodox Church are fanatical in wanting a union with the Pope! No where has such a decision ever been made, and even a quick study of documents related to this matter produced by recent meetings, consultations and the like do not lend much credence to this. While we do pray "for the holy churches of God and the union of all" -- we must be committed to fulfilling the prayer of Our Lord on the eve of His death, "That all may be one" -- we see it in light of others reconciling and reuniting themselves to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church which we profess to be in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

I invite you to look at the article by our Chancellor, Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, on "good" and "wrong" ecumenism (The Orthodox Church, October/November 1998) which will shed some light on the kind of ecumenism Orthodoxy embraces and the kind of ecumenism Orthodoxy condemns. The basic line of thinking is that if, in inter-faith gatherings and forums, Orthodox participate, it is for the purpose of bearing witness to the truth and fullness of faith. We cannot bring back into the fullness of the truth those with whom we refuse to speak.

One thing I would strongly advise is that, in terms of ecumenism, you take much of what you read with a grain of salt. So much is misinterpreted when reported in the secular press. One needs to pray for the gift to discern what is accurate and what is not, to discern what is said in the spirit of truth and what is said in the spirit of deceit.

Concerning the book by Priestmonk Christodoulos, I have never heard of it, so I am uncertain as to when it will be published.







Published in January 2011.









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