Oriental "Orthodox Church"

Nektarios14 · Post by **Nektarios14** » Fri 23 January 2004 11:49 pm

You have the nerve to blast the OCA, but then join the Antiochians? You make no sense, and neither does your spiritual father.

One can disagree with the "policy" of a jurisdiction and still remain a member of it. I hold the more traditional Orthodox view regarding monophysitism and am in full communion with the Patriarchate of Antioch. Orthodoxy doesn't have the rigid conformity found in the papal system.

尼古拉前执事 · Sat 24 January 2004 8:42 am

If the Antiochians are in communion with Monophysites and one agrees with the Church Fathers and 4th - 7th Ecumenical Councils that Monophysitism is a heresy, then it would be hypocritical to join them. In Orthodoxy, you join a church or are in communion with them because you share its ecclesiology. Unless we just want to be cafeteria Orthodox.

OrthodoxyOrDeath · Post by **OrthodoxyOrDeath** » Sat 24 January 2004 9:06 am

Orthodoxy doesn't have the rigid conformity found in the papal system.

True. However, Orthodoxy is most certainly very rigid when it comes to matters of faith, especially declarations made through councils, and most especially ecumenical councils. Communion with those under anathema places you under the same anathema.

I would forward the notion that a unity based on subserviance to a prescribed heirarchy despite differing faiths, is very much papal; after all, for a Latin, you are only "Catholic" as long as you are in communion with the pope, and what you actually believe is most of the time up for grabs.

Nektarios14 · Post by **Nektarios14** » Sat 24 January 2004 11:48 am

True. However, Orthodoxy is most certainly very rigid when it comes to matters of faith, especially declarations made through councils, and most especially ecumenical councils. Communion with those under anathema places you under the same anathema.

The tricky part is exactly what is the relationship with the Antiochians with the monophysites. They are not in communion in the normal sense of the word for certain. From what I can tell there are concelebrations on the grassroot levels in Syria. Frustratingly enough the patriarch has turned a blind eye even encouraging this, but that still isn't communion. If an agreement announcing "full communion" or something of that nature were to come out I'd agree that the Antiochian Patriachate would have fallen into heresy.

尼古拉前执事 · Sat 24 January 2004 11:57 am

The Patriarch and synod have told their priests to commune and concelebrate with one another, what more needs to be done? This is not grass roots level, this is being done at every level. What more needs to be done to call it communion?

Nektarios14 · Post by **Nektarios14** » Sat 24 January 2004 12:53 pm

When they say they are officially in communion with the monophysites.

Remember though that by your logic Nik, you are a monophysite!

OrthodoxyOrDeath · Post by **OrthodoxyOrDeath** » Sat 24 January 2004 1:18 pm

Nektarios,

They have said this "officially". I would hasten to add that there is nothing "official" or "unofficial" in Orthodoxy. Either it is the practice and faith of your bishop and those he communes with or it is not. There cannot be an "unofficial" communion and an "official" communion, or an "official" faith and an "unofficial" faith - we are not legalists or Pharisees.