The Saint Euphrosynos Cafe

Deacon Ephraim, you say that the Cyprianites have repented of their Cyprianism. Where and when? I haven't seen it. What I have seen is Bishop Auxentios' recent article in which he specifically states that he repented of nothing. "Je ne regrette rien"! See my article, published here on Euph...

We do not need to use the emotive word "infallible". It is sufficient to say that the decision of the ROCOR Synod in 1983 was "valid" or "true". As such, all other Synods have to obey it, or find some good reason for not obeying it. I have never yet heard a good reason ...

So can we take it, Jonathan, that you do not believe that the ROCOR anathema against ecumenism expelled all member-Churches of the World Council of Churches from the True Church? Of course, we know that God is above His own laws and can make exceptions to them. But these exceptions are known to Him ...

This is all very well, but it ignores two crucial issues. First, the Cyprianites certainly did in the past reject the power of any but Pan-Orthodox or Ecumenical 'Unifying' Synods (that is, unifying the Orthodox and the heretics) to expel heretics from the Church. Until they specifically renounce th...

Yes, one part of the Catholic heresies, the Filioque, was anathematized by the Local Council of Constantinople in 879-80. But the Pope himself signed that decision, so there was no immediate falling away of the Roman Church. I still hold to the traditional date of 1054 for the fall of the Church of ...

It's not true that essential things about WO MUST be decided by a Pan-Orthodox Synod. There are many instances in the history of the Church when Local Councils have authoritatively expelled heretics from the Church. For example, Arius was expelled by a Local Council of the Alexandrian Church long be...

"I think you misunderstand me. I don't believe that anyone who contravenes Apostolic Canon 46 in a specific case is a heretic. Then, as you rightly point out, one would have to condemn a whole host of rightly-believing hierarchs as heretics. Cyprianism, however, goes much further than simply sa...