If we have not love...

[frphoti]

I would like to shed a little ray of hope on the recent events between the GOC-Kallinikos and the RTOC-”Tikhonites”.

We have recently heard nothing but negativity (on this forum at least) concerning the relations between the two groups vis a vis the problems in Serbia. Despite all this we in Portland at the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos(GOC-Kallinikos) have maintained a growing relationship with the parish of St. Joseph of Petersburg (RTOC) which is also in the local area.

For a couple of years now, warmth and the love of Christ has been fostered between the parishes and this has been evidenced by some of our parishioners swapping places of worship for a weekend, clergy visiting each parish, and most greatly, an agape feast shared with each community.

In recent months, the two parishes have come together on two occasions after their respective Liturgies and had a beautiful meeting, sharing food and the love of Christ. We talked of unity, love of God, and the state and mission of Orthodoxy in the world today.

Though we are not in full Eucharistic communion, we have a bond of true Christian love between us. For us, the the far-away events in Europe are a sad reminder that the evil one never sleeps, and with no blame laid on either side for either parish, we have resolved ourselves to love above all.

May God grant that our parishes keep this model of unity, and that this be an example for the rest of the True Orthodox world to see. May we all seek true unity and love in Christ, and to heal all divisions in a God-pleasing way!

[jgress]

That's wonderful news, Fr Photios! I hope others can come forward with similar messages of hope.

[Maria]

This is wonderful news. Hopefully, this schism will be resolved bottom up at the parish level.

Then perhaps, people will say once again, "See how the Christians love one another."

I would like to shed a little ray of hope on the recent events between the GOC-Kallinikos and the RTOC-”Tikhonites”.

We have recently heard nothing but negativity (on this forum at least) concerning the relations between the two groups vis a vis the problems in Serbia. Despite all this we in Portland at the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos(GOC-Kallinikos) have maintained a growing relationship with the parish of St. Joseph of Petersburg (RTOC) which is also in the local area.

For a couple of years now, warmth and the love of Christ has been fostered between the parishes and this has been evidenced by some of our parishioners swapping places of worship for a weekend, clergy visiting each parish, and most greatly, an agape feast shared with each community.

In recent months, the two parishes have come together on two occasions after their respective Liturgies and had a beautiful meeting, sharing food and the love of Christ. We talked of unity, love of God, and the state and mission of Orthodoxy in the world today.

Though we are not in full Eucharistic communion, we have a bond of true Christian love between us. For us, the the far-away events in Europe are a sad reminder that the evil one never sleeps, and with no blame laid on either side for either parish, we have resolved ourselves to love above all.

May God grant that our parishes keep this model of unity, and that this be an example for the rest of the True Orthodox world to see. May we all seek true unity and love in Christ, and to heal all divisions in a God-pleasing way!

[Priest Siluan]

This is wonderful news. Hopefully, this schism will be resolved bottom up at the parish level.

Then perhaps, people will say once again, "See how the Christians love one another."

Dear Maria, you are right about what you said about the parish level, it is a very good think, but it is not too successful there is not support from the hierarchy, I can tell that to say because I l know about the TOC experience in Russia, there they has been for enough time dialogue and good relationship in the parish level, but they had/have very little help and interest from hierarchy, so they have able to make progress very few.