Fr. John Guy Winfrey, the parish priest of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI, and a former parishioner of the Anglo-Catholic St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ft. Worth, has written to offer the following piece on promising developments in Eastern Orthodoxy and his thoughts regarding their place in the larger drama of reconciliation between the "two lungs" of the Church, East and West.
Fr. Winfrey posits that the Holy Father's recent Apostolic Constitution providing for the corporate reconciliation of Anglican groups, Anglicanorum Coetibus, is a sign to Orthodox Christians that the Roman Pontiff is truly committed to the pursuit of a genuine unity in diversity.
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I returned Saturday evening from the Parish Life Conference (for those of you who are not Antiochian Orthodox, it is our rough equivalent of a Diocesan Conference). At the clergy meeting on Wednesday evening I heard something that I wasn't sure that I had actually heard. I was startled, stunned, and paradoxically thrilled and filled with angst at the same time. His Grace was speaking about the recent National Assembly of Bishops (Orthodox) and their work. Much of this I had already heard, but had not spoken of it much because I continued to hear things that are better not made the subject of discussion in large groups. After all, the questions that the bishops are discussing really stand solely within the purview of the bishops.
On Saturday, before I left Perrysburg (the suburb of Toledo, Ohio where the event was hosted), I asked one of my brother priests who seemed to be more "in the know" than I. He has always been much more active in these areas than myself. Following our conversation I was utterly floored. So what was it that I had heard, first on Wednesday and then reiterated on Saturday? I heard that it is thought within five years there will be only one jurisdiction of Orthodox in the United States. There will no longer be a Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and an Antiochian Archdiocese, and an Orthodox Church in America… There will only be the Orthodox Church. But this is not simply an American concern alone. In truth it will be a world-wide action affecting Australia, Central America, South America, England, Europe and so on.
The details will prove to be some of the great hiccups I am sure. Diocesan borders will be redrawn and restructured. There will be a singular guideline for all the priests in the country rather than seeing it vary in every jurisdiction. Admittedly there will be a period of transition that will naturally cause no little tension. What of the calendar? Will that be a source of unity, or will there be Old Calendar (Julian) and New Calendar parishes still? Just the selection of a revised Julian Calendar has caused a terrible schism within the Orthodox Church since the 1920s. Only time will be able to tell exactly what will happen, but five years is a very short time indeed.
One of my personal difficulties, and I have to be frank about this, is that it appears that everything will be under Constantinople. There is some logic to this. After all a recent study states that 80% of the Orthodox in the United States are already in the Greek Archdiocese. If they have those numbers, then naturally they should have the lion's share of say. Of course, it is being handled with a different sense. The natural presvia (or order given clergy and local churches) is being followed. Therefore the Greeks as representing the Ecumenical Patriarch — who anciently second only to Rome — is given the seat of honor, followed by Antioch (since Alexandria has no churches here), and on down the line. I said that I had personal difficulties with this, and I do, but I'll save those thoughts for another post.
Having a singular jurisdiction would be a very healthy development in Orthodoxy here and elsewhere. Yet I can't help to think that this is only part of something that is much larger. We are tempted to look only at our own countries, or only at the Orthodox Church in isolation from what seems to be happening in the larger scene. When I view the scene of Christianity on the largest possible scale, I get the distinct intuition that God the Holy Spirit is incredibly active right now. Of course, God is always active, but there are moments that His activity seems more perceptible.
Consider these things a components or signs of something profound happening:
- The Orthodox Church is working on getting her house in order (trying to reconcile the scandal of multiple jurisdictions in many countries).
- Both Moscow and Constantinople have had very positive and warm meetings with Rome.
- Moscow has publicly given support to Pope Benedict XIV recently in Rome, and has called for greater work together with Rome on commonly held concerns.
- The recent agreed statement produced at Ravenna (and that which has been leaked from Cyprus) between the Orthodox and Catholics is incredible.
- Pope Benedict XVI issued the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, which gave very liberal and broad license to priests to celebrate the 1962 Latin Mass. This is a very significant development because it helps to show the Orthodox that the Catholic Church is officially holding in a line of "continuity" rather than of "disruption". Perhaps it doesn't need to be stated that this was one of the things that Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev brought up as important when he met with the Pope.
- Pope Benedict XVI's stunning Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus, which makes it possible in the very near future for Anglicans to enter into communion with the Catholic Church whilst keeping the great treasure of their patrimony shows the genuine sense that the Holy Father has of being the pivot of unity for the universal Church. He seems quite content to allow diversity in unity and is completely unthreatened by it — provided there is theological unity (recall again the agreements of Ravenna and Cyprus here).
- The Western world is dying because of many spiritual and moral diseases, but perhaps more than anything else because of the loss of the organic and sacramental unity of the Church: Eastern and Western. The desire to work together would seem to be a hint that maybe we understand this.
- The Roman Catholic Church is experiencing a nascent recovery of some of her tradition and liturgical beauty at the moment. Although this is still small, one leading priest in this area continually reminds the faithful that this will be brought back together "brick by brick." Deo volente!
- Finally there is the continual disintegration of non-historic Christianity into mere entertainment, leaving many of their faithful looking for something that is stabile, substantial, historic and real.
Fr. John Richard Neuhaus wrote a marvelous book in the 1980s called "The Catholic Moment." It was, like so much of what he wrote, incredibly insightful. However, I think that the moment that we might be seeing is not simply a moment for the Church of Rome, but for the entire Church Catholic (East and West). I have a suspicion that Orthodox unity is being pressed forward, perhaps unconsciously, to make ready for a reunification of the Church.
There will be many who would not be able to make a journey to unity and union. Some are liberal Roman Catholics (I'd prefer to say heterodox, or even heretical, rather than liberal) who are ably represented by the likes of the Tablet, or the National Catholic Review. Some are the monastic extremists referred to by the Archbishop of Cyprus as the "Orthodox taliban." Old Calendarists would not enter into reconciliation. Perhaps the inclusion of the Orthodox would cause the Society of Saint Pius X to refrain from unity.
Nevertheless, I think that God might well be at work to bring us back together. The reunion would bring more joy to my heart than I could possibly express. I pray for this every day. I hope for it every hour. I dream of it every minute.
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I rejoice each and every time the East and the West celebrates Easter on the same Sunday. The thought of so many Catholics celebrating the risen Lord together is beyond words. May that unity, which is certainly in the mind of God, be closer than we can imagine. Anglican Constitution in my life time. East and West unity, too? Be still my heart and soul. Benedic anima mea!
I personally can't ever see Russians or Serbs putting up with the Patriarch of Constantinople. Perhaps I'm too cynical!
Robert, I would normally be cynical about that as well. However, all of this began on the level of the Patriarchs, not locally. All of the Mother Churches have already agreed on this and are supportive. It seems as though they are giving the local churches some level of independence to work out the local variations and details of what the Patriarchs have agreed upon. I was told that the bishops of ROCOR and the OCA were speaking on exceptionally friendly terms and at one time met separately to discuss some of their own concerns. They came back in good spirits!
As I told one of my brother priests, I am guardedly hopeful, or perhaps pessimistically optimistic. Nevertheless, the very fact of the discussions and that they didn't get derailed at the very first meeting are signs of great hope. The only possible cause for this must be the Holy Spirit. Nothing could possibly have caused this and all of the other "signs". For that reason alone, we must be hopeful. Besides, hope is a necessity as a Christian, it is one of the Cardinal Virtues and therefore must always reside in our breasts.
Well, they'd better hurry up.
There won't be a patriarch of Constantinople soon – the Turks are seeing to that.
Ut Unum Sint!
James, there will still be a Patriarch of Constantinople. He'll just be based in Thessalonika. Not one of the various Patriarchs of Antioch is actually based in Antioch.
I don't think His Beatitude would leave Constantinople even though it seems very dark for him there. And you're right that all of the Patriarchs of Antioch are actually in Damascus. But I would suggest that if there were to be a reunion of the East and West, then Turkey could scarcely continue its current pogrom. But only God knows…
I was merely stating that if the Patriarch were expelled it wouldn't mean the end of the Patriarchate. I don't believe Bartholomew will leave or be removed other than by force.
Thank you for this very encouraging Eastern Orthodox perspective. I note that there are some positive discussions with the Oriental Orthodox as well – the Church of the East and others.
We forget sometimes that the movement of God is a like a mighty wind. If Anglicans can be received by Rome with their patrimony intact, as they are being, then the Patriarch of Moscow can be reconciled with his elder brother in Constantinople by the leading of the Holy Spirit and the fruits of love, respect and grace.
Naturally the nationalistic sentiments of those who are nominally Christian will attempt to interfere because of our fallen humanity; just as angry liberal Anglicans make disparaging remarks about the Holy Father and his generosity.
"Dogs bark, but the caravan moves on."
Although the ordinariates may start out painfully small, they will be much bigger than themselves. Your faithfulness as Anglicans in seeking unity will draw others into unity following the grace that you are cooperating with.
May the Lord move the hearts of men that the Church may breathe with both lungs. Through the intercession of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco may the Great Schism end.
This is too funny, considering most people (clergy and laity) still refer to Roman Catholics as heretics and this is in the Antiochian Archdiocese. The Greeks are the only ones who seem to be friendly to the idea and most of them are nominally Orthodox who show up at church just in time for the "Magic Mush".
Rome has a lot of repenting and changing to do before she is ever Orthodox again, similar to how Anglicans will have to convert to Roman Catholicism to join the Roman Catholic Church giving up reformed innovations and subtractions.
"This is too funny, considering most people (clergy and laity) still refer to Roman Catholics as heretics and this is in the Antiochian Archdiocese."
Given how many Evangelical Protestant converts are in the Antiochian Archdiocese in the US, it's no wonder the unhappy shade of Cyril Lucaris haunts that body.
"Rome has a lot of repenting and changing to do before she is ever Orthodox again."
To the former: don't hold your breathe, to the latter: she never ceased being orthodox.
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David L.,
What my post was about was looking at some trends that are hopeful for unity–something which I desire, something which Christ desires. I did not say that it would be very simple and smooth. Nor did I say that there wouldn't be some who would scream and cry from the rooftops. As a matter of fact, I did say that some would–perhaps even many.
As for those who so easily use the term "heretic" and so forth, I'm not convinced. There is an enormous amount of Romophobia amongst many of the former evangelicals (including within the Western Rite) which precludes them from being completely Orthodox. They seem to view any thing that is Roman as bad and heretical, therefore they look for anything that they think might be tainted with that Latin horror. They also tend to bring with them the entire baggage of the 16th century debates which are not appropriate. They are poor little children.
But I would ask–even if one took the most extreme position which I do not (that being that the Orthodox Church is the ONLY Church and all others are heretical and are outside salvation)–then doesn't Our Lord desire everyone's salvation? AND doesn't he give us this work to participate in? If these two things are true, which I can't imagine anyone arguing with regardless of background, then we must work towards bringing all together in one Church. Is that better done with recriminations or charity? Honesty is important, but that is not what I usually see. Honesty requires being willing to even look at ones own assumptions and question them. Dangerous stuff here.
I personally don't say, "Rome broke from us," nor will I admit that "The East broke from Rome." I don't think that the history is quite so clear. What I am much more inclined to say is that there was a schism which began in 1054 and perhaps was complete by 1204 (some would say it was not until the 15th century with the Council of Florence). Both sides bear responsibility for the schism. Both were in error and both much do the work of reparation. This is also not the first time this happened between the East and Rome. But it had always been healed before, and it was always thought it would be healed this time.
The lines have hardened among the Orthodox since the Turkish captivity of the Church in Greece. But like many things that arose from that and following Greece's independence, it is not authentic.
I still hope for reunion. I still believe that God is working towards that. But just as God wishes everyone to be saved, and not all will, so too even if God is moving for reconciliation man will still be free to choose death rather than life.
Thank you Father, the suffering throughout the world still continues because of the great schism.This is evidenced in David's post above. This is not "too funny" but a great tragedy. It is miraculous that God is calling you to unity. Thanks be to God.
Bless, Father Winfrey,
I am really thrilled to hear of this development and will pray that it continue as you have said. I actually thought I saw this starting a few years back, first when the Saint Herman Brotherhood united with the Serbian Orthodox Church, and then, more significantly, when the ROCOR reunited with the Moscow Patriarchate. The Greeks, too, are having a revival of sorts with the Athonite movement of Fr. Ephraim in this country, I think. Similarly also the development of self-government for the Antiochian Archdiocese. I hope you will keep us advised of further developments.
Fr. Winfrey, you are either out of touch or uniformed. The converts are the more ecumenical types who often defend the externals of Roman Catholicism that protestants are keen to attack. It is the ethnic clergy that seem to feel Rome is heretical. I am some what in the middle, I am a fan of post schism Anglicanism which is Orthodoxy, I am sympathetic to Rome but can not and will not be united to a body that is still in error. I think Rome needs to get unified with itself much like the Orthodox must become unified with themselves. I really feel for the Anglicans who want to flee to Rome. Who can blame them looking at where they are coming from. I am sure Rome has been honest with the Anglicans I am just not real sure the Anglican leadership has been real honest with the faithful. As an outsider perhaps so see also who many Anglicans will tolerate disunity for unities sake. They, like those converts you believe aren't really Orthodox, will never become truly Roman Catholic.
I desire unity, real unity. That is going to require that our desires to rule are suppressed so that heresy dies.
I am reminded how the roads of Hell will be paved with the bones of erring priest and the lamp post will be made with the skulls of erring bishops. We may not have that organic unity but the hierarchy can not prevent the unity we have in faith.
UNIFY THE DATES OF EASTER!
"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand" Mark 3:24
Let us lower our heads so Christ's Head will be seen, lower our voices so Christ may be heard and pray for the unification of the dates of Easter. It is what divides the Church and keeps the members of the Body of Christ divided.
Dialogues, rationalism and intellectualism will not bring about unity. Unity will begin not with a signed treaty, but in the heart. Love and humility is missing. All is possible with God and prayer is our contact with Him. Let us ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to truly repent, for the fruit of repentance is humility and love. "It is not just through words that unity among brothers will come, but through the action of the Holy Spirit" (Sep 30, 1993 TLIG).
"Pray for the house of the East and the West to join together. Like a pair of hands when joined in prayer, similar and in beauty when joined together. Let those two hands, belonging to the same body, work together and share their capacity and resources with each other… let those two hands lift me together. Ah, when will those Hands of My Body lift Me over the Altar, holding Me together? O come! I do not want lengthy discourses, anyone who wants to be first and best among you must be slave to all." (Jun 15, 1995 TLIG)
LET US RAISE OUR HEARTS IN PRAYER TO UNIFY THE DATES OF EASTER!
David L., I disagree and I'm sorry you feel compelled to imply my skull will pave the path to hell. But God love you and bless you.
Benedict XVI in his homily during the Feast of St. Peter and Paul states
God bless you Father.
Everyone now knows and admits that the filioque was a later addition to the Creed among certain churches in the West. Why then do Roman Catholics insist on it as pride of place? This remains the main stumbling block to unity.
There are promising signs that the “two lungs” of the Church East and West are beginning to breathe together. Wonderfully these signs are appearing when for two consecutive years (2010 and 2011) both East and West celebrate Easter at the same time. My wife and I were privileged to participate in an ecumenical gathering of seventy three people from eighteen countries who responded to an invitation to celebrate Easter in Johannesburg, where we celebrated Easter with both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic communities. For a detailed report see:
http://www.tlig.org/en/mission/reports/2010/south-africa-2010/
An important step towards enabling the two lungs to breathe together rhythmically is to agree that there should be one date for Easter. Have you signed the petition?
http://www.onedate.org
BeOne