Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church to be Held in Western Crete
According to a press release from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the next Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church— a monumental gathering of the world’s Orthodox Christian hierarchs the likes of which hasn’t occurred in more than a thousand years— will take place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, in Kolymbari, a town west of Hania.
The last Pan-Orthodox council of this scale was convened in Constantinople well over a thousand years ago, in 879-880, and had representation of the Eastern Christian Churches, with over 380 bishops in attendance.
The Synod will take place from June 16th to the 27th. On the Sunday of Pentecost, June 19, 2016, a Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and concelebrated with the various heads at the Saint Minas Cathedral in Herakleion, seat of the autocephalous Church of Crete.
The heads of the church decided at a meeting in Switzerland to relocate the synod from Istanbul, which is the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, due to geopolitical circumstances that would have prevented the Russian delegation to travel to Turkey.
Those who are expected to attend are the heads or representatives of 14 autocephalous churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Georgia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia, Greece, Poland, Romania, Albania, and Czech and Slovakia.
The Orthodox Academy of Crete
The Patriarch of Constantinople is recognized as “first among equals” in the Orthodox world but the Orthodox Church doesn’t have the vertical structure that the Roman Catholic Church has, with the Pope as its head.
Individual churches— called “autocephalous” or self-governing, handle their own administrative matters. Adding further confusion to global Orthodoxy are the so-called “diaspora” churches— new world churches established for immigrants who emigrated from Orthodox countries like Greece, Serbia, Russia and elsewhere to places like the United States, Canada and Australia.
These churches grew side by side, with bishops setting up dioceses and archdioceses on each other’s territory— something that is uncanonical according to Orthodox Christian Church law.
For example, in the Chicago region alone, there is a Greek Orthodox Metropolis (diocese) whose bishop (Metropolitan) reports directly to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey. There is also a Serbian Orthodox diocese and a Romanian Orthodox diocese, made up of ethnic Serbs and Romanians, respectively. There are others too, including Antiochians, Ukrainians and even numerous break-away churches calling themselves “Orthodox Christian” but not recognized by any of the other churches.
Complications aren’t only on local levels, but nationally too, and practically in every country where Orthodox Christians exist.
In the United States, for example, there is a Greek Orthodox Archdiocese which has no real power as a body, since what was the “Archdiocese of North and South America” was carved up into a U.S. archdiocese, a Metropolis of Toronto covering Canada, a Metropolis of Central America covering and a Metropolis of Buenos Aries covering South America.
Five independent Greek Orthodox metropolises with bishops reporting directly to Constantinople exist in the United States, loosely confederated in a body known as the Archdiocese of America.
And this is the Greek Orthodox church, alone.
Add to that complicated mix, a break-away church called the Orthodox Church of America that formed from ex-Russian church members and was granted “autocephaly” or the right to self-govern, only by the Church of Russia.
Constantinople and most other Orthodox Churches doesn’t recognize the OCA’s autocephaly. In fact, one of the items expected to be discussed at the synod in June is exactly the question of who grants autocephaly.
Adding to the complexity of the Orthodox structure are a host of internal rivalries, strife between national churches and even animosity.
The biggest of the “byzantine” rivalries is the one between Moscow and Istanbul.
Moscow considers itself almost the de facto head of global Orthodoxy and has often belittled Constantinople within Orthodoxy, simply because of its sheer size.
The Church of Greece has rivalries with Constantinople, too, going as far as not sending its national Archbishop to recent meetings in Switzerland and opting instead to send a low-level delegation of lesser bishops.
There is a bitter feud between churches over the fate of the Church in Ukraine, as well, with a huge power play under way between Bartholomew and Moscow’s patriarch Kirill.
Erasmus, a religion blogger for the Economist explained the divide in a recent post.
Upon arriving in Geneva last week to attend the preliminary meetings, Kirill made a carefully calibrated address that effectively spelled out Moscow’s conditions for continued participation in any Pan-Orthodox efforts, the biggest concern Ukraine.
In that country the two biggest Orthodox institutions are the globally recognized Ukrainian Orthodox Church, ultimately under the Moscow Patriarchate, and the 25-year-old Kiev Patriarchate which strongly supports Ukrainian independence and the government’s battle against Russophile rebels in east.
These two bodies have identical services; the main difference is that they pray for, and obey, different bishops.
On the one hand you have the Ukrainian loyalists to Moscow who make up the main church and on the other you have a many Ukrainians, in the homeland and the diaspora, who dream of their country having a united Orthodox church which would look politically to Kiev and ecclesiastically to the ancient see of Constantinople, in other words to Patriarch Bartholomew.
The new territories are a temptation to Bartholomew, whose own Patriarchate is practically imprisoned by the Turkish government and whose only major financial support comes from an ever-growing restless flock in the United States.
In the end, the synod will prove to be a monumental gathering of the world’s Orthodox Christian leaders, complete with its Byzantine intrigue, rivalries, ferocious politics and jockeying of power, and the tiny coastal town on the west side of Crete will resemble Washington DC, London, or any other world capitol where money and power are the key motivators.
Pingback: Real viagra without prescription
Pingback: cialis 5 mg
Pingback: buy cialis
Pingback: where to buy amoxicillin 500 mg
Pingback: Order viagra online
Pingback: generic ventolin
Pingback: viagra 100mg
Pingback: cipro without a doctor prescription
Pingback: pfizer viagra online
Pingback: naltrexone over the counter usa
Pingback: when will cialis be generic
Pingback: latisse generic bimatoprost 3ml solution
Pingback: generic viagra
Pingback: buy tylenol 3 online canada
Pingback: chloroquine 250 mg tablets
Pingback: cialis prices
Pingback: gnc ed pills
Pingback: ed meds
Pingback: best erectile dysfunction pills
Pingback: hydroxychloroquine order
Pingback: rx pharmacy
Pingback: pharmacy online
Pingback: generic cialis online
Pingback: Viagra or cialis
Pingback: levitra canada
Pingback: vardenafil coupon
Pingback: vardenafil online pharmacy
Pingback: amazon viagra tablets
Pingback: gambling casino online
Pingback: buy cialis online
Pingback: gambling casino online
Pingback: free viagra
Pingback: best online casinos that payout
Pingback: best online casino for money
Pingback: buy tadalafil online
Pingback: viagra mail order usa
Pingback: short term loans
Pingback: buy careprost in the usa
Pingback: how long does cialis last
Pingback: loans for bad credit
Pingback: instant loans
Pingback: viagra 100mg
Pingback: order viagra online
Pingback: hollywood casino online
Pingback: generic for cialis
Pingback: best real money online casinos
Pingback: cialis internet
Pingback: play penny slots online real money
Pingback: emil
Pingback: new cialis
Pingback: best online casino for money
Pingback: cheapest viagra 50 mg
Pingback: cialis 20
Pingback: cialis 5 mg
Pingback: buy cialis
Pingback: buy hydroxychloroquine online
Pingback: viagra alternative
Pingback: real casino online
Pingback: real money casino
Pingback: best casino online
Pingback: online slots
Pingback: viagra for sale
Pingback: viagra without a doctor prescription
Pingback: cheapest viagra online
Pingback: viagra buy
Pingback: viagra price
Pingback: cialis generic
Pingback: how to buy viagra online
Pingback: viagra generic
Pingback: cialis 5 mg
Pingback: viagra pills for sale
Pingback: cialis price
Pingback: canadian pharmacy king
Pingback: buy viagra now
Pingback: purchase cialis
Pingback: casino slot games
Pingback: best online casino usa
Pingback: Yeezy Shoes
Pingback: http://viagrabs.com
Pingback: viagra canada
Pingback: buy cialis
Pingback: buy cheap viagra with mastercard
Pingback: generic viagra pills
Pingback: Viagra 100 mg online
Pingback: Viagra 130mg cheap
Pingback: best price on cialis
Pingback: buy hydroxychloroquine
Pingback: viagra
Pingback: Viagra 200 mg price
Pingback: Viagra 200 mg price
Pingback: Viagra 130 mg prices
Pingback: where to buy Viagra 100 mg
Pingback: cialis cialis
Pingback: online viagra
Pingback: Viagra 200 mg coupon
Pingback: buying generic viagra online
Pingback: Cialis 40mg australia
Pingback: Cialis 80mg medication
Pingback: where can i buy Cialis 10mg
Pingback: buy generic viagra online
Pingback: buy viagra online
Pingback: cialis generic tadalafil
Pingback: Cialis 10 mg pills
Pingback: viagra for sale
Pingback: https://www.azhydroxychloroquine.com
Pingback: Cialis 40 mg without prescription
Pingback: order Cialis 10mg
Pingback: Cialis 20 mg online pharmacy
Pingback: buy viagra generic
Pingback: Cialis 20 mg online pharmacy
Pingback: viagra cheap
Pingback: cheapest sildenafil 25mg
Pingback: lm360.us
Pingback: tadalafil 10 mg without a doctor prescription
Pingback: levitra 40mg united states
Pingback: lasix 100 mg online
Pingback: canadian pharmacy vikky
Pingback: furosemide 100mg otc
Pingback: where to buy propecia 1 mg
Pingback: lexapro 20 mg tablets
Pingback: viagra for sale
Pingback: cheap finasteride 1mg
Pingback: northwest pharmacy in canada
Pingback: viagra substitute
Pingback: abilify 10mg cost
Pingback: actos 30mg online pharmacy
Pingback: aldactone 25 mg without a doctor prescription
Pingback: viagra
Pingback: where to buy allegra 120mg
Pingback: allopurinol 300mg united states
Pingback: amaryl 2mg australia
Pingback: amoxicillin 500mg no prescription
Pingback: ampicillin 250mg pills
Pingback: antabuse 500 mg prices
Pingback: how to purchase antivert 25mg
Pingback: cheap cialis
Pingback: arava 20mg united kingdom
Pingback: strattera 40 mg without a doctor prescription
Pingback: aricept 10 mg united kingdom
Pingback: best online pharmacy viagra
Pingback: arimidex 1mg pills
Pingback: cheap tamoxifen 10mg
Pingback: bee-rich.com
Pingback: buy cialis in uk
Pingback: atarax 25mg generic
Pingback: augmentin 875/125mg price
Pingback: where can i buy avapro 150 mg
Pingback: avodart 0,5mg without a doctor prescription
Pingback: cheap albuterol and viagra
Pingback: cheap baclofen 25mg
Pingback: bactrim 800/160 mg cheap
Pingback: benicar 40 mg australia
Pingback: cialis canadian pharmacy
Pingback: Biaxin 250mg online pharmacy
Pingback: https://keflex.webbfenix.com/
Pingback: what does generic cialis look like
Pingback: viagra without prescription
Pingback: calcium carbonate 500mg coupon
Pingback: canadian viagra without a doctor prescription
Pingback: best viagra prices
Pingback: casodex 50mg otc
Pingback: buy cialis
Pingback: catapres canada
Pingback: where can i buy ceclor
Pingback: ceftin 125mg price
Pingback: order celebrex 200mg
Pingback: how to buy celexa
Pingback: generic cialis at walmart
Pingback: cephalexin 500mg cheap
Pingback: ed meds online
Pingback: where to buy cipro
Pingback: claritin 10 mg medication
Pingback: best online casino real money
Pingback: buy viagra from canada
Pingback: ocean casino online
Pingback: online slots for real money
Pingback: casino online gambling
Pingback: slot machine games
Pingback: best online casino for money
Pingback: best casino online
Pingback: best slots to play online
Pingback: online casino games
Pingback: Cheap Erection Pills
Pingback: online casinos real money
Pingback: aaa car insurance
Pingback: what receptor does viagra block
Pingback: mexico car insurance
Pingback: ameriprise car insurance
Pingback: cheapest generic viagra uk
Pingback: commercial car insurance quotes companies
Pingback: car insurance quotes michigan
Pingback: progressive car insurance quotes
Pingback: cheap cialis
Pingback: car insurance cheap
Pingback: online car insurance quotes
Pingback: cheap car insurance quotes
Pingback: freeway car insurance
Pingback: Buy generic viagra
Pingback: best generic cialis
Pingback: texas personal loans
Pingback: online payday loans no credit check
Pingback: online payday loan
Pingback: installment loans california
Pingback: cialis 20mg pills
Pingback: california quick loans
Pingback: viagra online usa
Pingback: easy bad credit loans
Pingback: cialis online
Pingback: instant payday loans online
Pingback: personal loans for people with bad credit
Pingback: cannabidioloilsale.com
Pingback: amoxicillin no prescription
Pingback: cbd oil free sample bottle
Pingback: where to order generic viagra
Pingback: best way to use cbd oil for pain management
Pingback: generic viagra price
Pingback: best cbd oil tincture
Pingback: sildenafil cost australia
Pingback: brand viagra next day delivery
Pingback: can cbd oil help with pain?
Pingback: cbd oil for cancer pain
Pingback: female viagra drug
Pingback: cbd oil vs hemp oil comparison
Pingback: canadian pharmacy viagra pills
Pingback: buy levitra 20mg online
Pingback: best cbd oil on amazon
Pingback: payday loans online
Pingback: cbd hemp oil uses for health
Pingback: buy levitra 10 mg
Pingback: generic viagra australia paypal
Pingback: discount viagra master card
Pingback: essay writing online
Pingback: buy cheap essays
Pingback: buy custom essays online
Pingback: essay writing services australia
Pingback: website dieses benutzers besuchen
Pingback: essays writing service
Pingback: generic viagra online no prescription
Pingback: buying essay
Pingback: the best essay writing service
Pingback: how to write argumentative essays
Pingback: viagra pharmacy prices
Pingback: cleocin 150 mg cost
Pingback: clomid 100mg no prescription
Pingback: viagra mejor cialis
Pingback: cost of clonidine
Pingback: Generic viagra online
Pingback: clozaril 50mg united kingdom
Pingback: cheapest colchicine
Pingback: where to buy symbicort inhaler
Pingback: how long does cialis 20mg last
Pingback: buy combivent