Is the Patriarch seat empty?

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Justice
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Is the Patriarch seat empty?

Post by Justice »

I'm not clear on this issue, do Traditional Orthodox believe that the Patriarchal seat of all Orthodox countries is vacant? or do we consider them to simply be Patriarchs but false Patriarchs?

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Maria
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Re: Is the Patriarch seat empty?

Post by Maria »

Another excellent question, Justice!

Catholics have Sedevacantists, who claim that the Seat of Peter is empty.

The Matthewites back in 1935 basically declared that the See of Athens was in schism, and thereby established that the ranking Old Calendar Metropolitan should be declared as the Metropolitan of Athens and all Greece.

On May 13/26 [1935], the three Metropolitans [Met. Germanos of Demetrias (State Church of Greece), Met. Chrysostom of Florina (a retired EP bishop), and Met. Chrysostom of Zakynthos] formally accept the Old Calendarists' invitation at the Church of the Dormition at Kolonos, Athens, in the presence of 25,000 faithful. They proceed to issue a Confession of Faith, and, at the same time, solemnly declare the State Church of Greece to be schismatic in relation to those Local Churches that have preserved the traditional calendar. A majority of Hierarchs has accepted the new calendar innovation.

Reference: Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece (GOC), 2013, by Father Stephen Fraser of Arizona.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

Justice
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Re: Is the Patriarch seat empty?

Post by Justice »

Maria wrote:

Another excellent question, Justice!

Catholics have Sedevacantists, who claim that the Seat of Peter is empty.

The Matthewites back in 1935 basically declared that the See of Athens was in schism, and thereby established that the ranking Old Calendar Metropolitan should be declared as the Metropolitan of Athens and all Greece.

On May 13/26 [1935], the three Metropolitans [Met. Germanos of Demetrias (State Church of Greece), Met. Chrysostom of Florina (a retired EP bishop), and Met. Chrysostom of Zakynthos] formally accept the Old Calendarists' invitation at the Church of the Dormition at Kolonos, Athens, in the presence of 25,000 faithful. They proceed to issue a Confession of Faith, and, at the same time, solemnly declare the State Church of Greece to be schismatic in relation to those Local Churches that have preserved the traditional calendar. A majority of Hierarchs has accepted the new calendar innovation.

Reference: Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece (GOC), 2013, by Father Stephen Fraser of Arizona.

Interesting, thank you Maria. I usually went with the opinion that the seat was empty with Bartholomew and Kiril, but always could fully make up my mind on it.

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