ROCOR Anathema Against ecumenism (1983)

[Kollyvas]

The ROCOR Anathema of 1983

The "ROCOR Anathema of 1983," which condemns ecumenism, reads (in full) as follows:

To those who attack the Church of Christ by teaching that Christ's Church is divided into so-called "branches" which differ in doctrine and way of life, or that the Church does not exist visibly, but will be formed in the future when all "branches" or sects or denominations, and even religions will be united into one body; and who do not distinguish the Priesthood and Mysteries of the Church from those of the heretics, but say that the baptism and Eucharist of heretics is effectual for salvation; therefore, to those who knowingly have communion with these aforementioned heretics or who advocate, disseminate, or defend their heresy of ecumenism under the pretext of brotherly love or the supposed unification of separated Christians, Anathema!

[George Australia]

Calling this the "Anathema Against Ecumenism" is a misnomer.
What is anathemised is False Ecumenism. Ecumenism is a modus operandi, and not subject to heresy since it is not a doctrine. A modus operandi may be a sin, but it cannot be a heresy in itself. "Ecumenism" has always existed in the Church, and should always exist in the Church. We cannot have "Ecumenical Synods" without "Ecumenism"- so to anathamise "Ecumenism" would itself be a heresy. False ecumenism on the other hand is based on false doctrines such as the "Branch Theory" which holds that the Church has become divided into "Branches" which all originate from the one source. This decree anathemises the so called "Branch Theory"- the false doctrine, not ecumenism.
And interestingly, even "World Orthodoxy" publically rejects the "Branch Theory". For example, Archbishop Christodulous, first Primate of the Church of Greece states:

"Indeed, for the Orthodox the apostolic succession of episcopacy and sacramental priesthood is an essential and constitutive, and therefore obligatory, element of the Church’s very existence. Apparently we accept neither the “branch theory”, nor the theory of “shared truth”.
We enter into the dialogues with love in Christ for our Christian brothers and sisters and with respect for them. But love is neither compromise, nor syncretism, but the confession in humility in our part, of the Truth in Christ. "
Source: http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/archbish ... logue.html

[Jean-Serge]

And interestingly, even "World Orthodoxy" publically rejects the "Branch Theory". For example, Archbishop Christodulous, first Primate of the Church of Greece states:

"Indeed, for the Orthodox the apostolic succession of episcopacy and sacramental priesthood is an essential and constitutive, and therefore obligatory, element of the Church’s very existence. Apparently we accept neither the “branch theory”, nor the theory of “shared truth”.
We enter into the dialogues with love in Christ for our Christian brothers and sisters and with respect for them. But love is neither compromise, nor syncretism, but the confession in humility in our part, of the Truth in Christ. "
Source: http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/archbish ... logue.html

Sorry but World Orthodoxy has a double language. They officialy reject Branch theory but endorse it by some actions :

1° praying with heretics
2° saying that Rome is the legitimate patriarchate of Western Europe (see Hilarion of Viena)
2 Recognizing mysteries in heretical churches, which is clearly anathematized in the 1983 anathemas etc

[George Australia]

Sorry but World Orthodoxy has a double language. They officialy reject Branch theory but endorse it by some actions :

OK, let's look at them:

1° praying with heretics

This may be uncanonical, but it's hardly an endorsement of the Branch Theory. Praying with people outside of the Church doesn't mean you consider them inside the Church- especially considering the fact that certain heirarchs have prayed with those who are not even Christian. Uncanonical: yes, heretical: no.

2° saying that Rome is the legitimate patriarchate of Western Europe (see Hilarion of Viena)

Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria never said this, and I challenge you to provide evidence that he did. In fact, Bishop Hilarion of Vienna says the exact opposite: See http://orthodoxytoday.org/articles5/HilarionPrimacy.php
There is a Commandment in the Decalogue about bearing false eyewitness you know.

2 Recognizing mysteries in heretical churches, which is clearly anathematized in the 1983 anathemas etc

All Orthodox Churches recieve those from heterodox confessions via either economia or akrevia. Both economia and akrevia clearly do not recognise the mysteries outside the Church. If you have to be Chrisimated to be recieved into Orthodoxy from Roman Catholicism, it is because your baptism was not effectual, and must be made effectual by the Orthodox Church. Reception by economia is not a recognition of the validity of mysteries outside the Church, it is simply another way the Church administers her salvivic authority.
Even the Canons endorse the reception of heretics by economia, by either Chrisimation or Confession for example, the 95th Canon of the Council of Trullo states:

Those who from the heretics come over to orthodoxy, and to the number of those who should be saved, we receive according to the following order and custom. Arians, Macedonians, Novatians, who call themselves Cathari, Aristeri, and Testareskaidecatitae, or Tetraditae, and Apollinarians, we receive on their presentation of certificates and on their anathematizing every heresy which does not hold as does the holy Apostolic Church of God: then first of all we anoint them with the holy chrism on their foreheads, eyes, nostrils, mouth and ears; and as we seal them we say- "The seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost."

But concerning the Paulianists it has been determined by the Catholic Church that they shall by all means be rebaptized. The Eunomeans also, who baptize with one immersion; and the Montanists, who here are called Phrygians; and the Sabellians, who consider the Son to be the same as the Father, and are guilty in certain other grave matters, and all the other heresies-for there are many heretics here, especially those who come from the region of the Galatians-all of their number who are desirous of coming to the Orthodox faith, we receive as Gentiles. And on the first day we make them Christians, on the second Catechumens, then on the third day we exorcise them, at the same time also breathing thrice upon their faces and cars; and thus we initiate them, and we make them spend time in church and hear the Scriptures; and then we baptize them.

And the Manichaeans, and Valentinians and Marcionites and all of similar heresies must give certificates and anathematize each his own heresy, and also Nestorius, Eutyches, Dioscorus, Severus, and the other chiefs of such heresies, and those who think with them, and all the aforesaid heresies; and so they become partakers of the holy Communion.
Source: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-14/N ... 34_1507755

The Arians did not baptise by Triple Immersion, yet even they were received by Chrisimation in the Orthodox Church. Other heretics like the Nestorians, Origenists, Monophysites (ie, the followers of Nestorius, Eutyches and Dioscorus mentioned in the Canon) weren't even Chrisimated but simply received by a refutation of heresy and confession of the Orthodox Faith... Are you saying that the Fathers of Trullo also held the Branch Theory then?

[1937 Miraculous Cross]

so, 'World" Orthodoxy rejects the Branch theory, but they do accept the "Twin Lung" ecclesiology.

nectarios

[George Australia]

so, 'World" Orthodoxy rejects the Branch theory, but they do accept the "Twin Lung" ecclesiology.

This would have to be the most quoted accusation against "World Orthodoxy"....Again, I think you'll find if you do your research that no Orthodox Church has ever used the concept of the "Two Lungs"- this is a Latin ecclesiological heresy. Specifically, it was Pope John Paul II who stated this at the Angelus Message of 1st September, 1996. See: http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP960901.HTM
No Orthodox Church has ever stated this, nor stated that it accepts this ecclesiology. You will note, by the way, that I have backed up every post with evidence, not just "blind opinion." So I therefore challenge you to prove that this claimm of yours is not just blind opinion by providing us with the evidence that a "World Orthodox" Synod has accepted the "Twin Lung" ecclesiology. If you're going to accuse someone of heresy, you'd better have the evidence to back it up. So go on, tell us where any Orthodox Bishop has taught that the Church exists in "Two Lungs".....Remember the Ninth Commandment of the Decalogue.

[Kollyvas]

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_rome.aspx

False Union With Rome
Some of our hierarchs and "professional theologians" today are saying that the Orthodox Church has never "officially declared" Roman Catholicism to be heretical. They call Rome a "Sister Church" (See the "Balamand Agreement", below) and will tell you that there is a "new openness" to Rome, that we "understand things better in light of new developments" (e.g., "eucharistic ecclesiology"). For example, here is a quote from Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh, a person whom many consider to be one of the most conservative and erudite bishops in the GOA. The quote is from his Foreward to The Quest for Unity: Orthodox and Catholics in Dialogue (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir Seminary Press and Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1996), ed. by John and John Borelli:

Common prayer and participation as far as possible in the prayer life of the other church has also been part of our lives together in dialogue... We have responded to the work of the Joint Theological Commission for the dialogue between our two sister churches, the "two lungs" of the one Church of Christ. These two have to synchronize anew their breathing, so that the Church of Christ may begin breathing properly again. (p. 3).

As an antidote to this kind of innovation I offer the documents below. It will leave no doubt in your mind what the Church has declared regarding the Latin Communion. Then ask yourself: "What has changed since these were written?" The answer is nothing. Rome has repented of none of her errors. In fact, they have only gotten worse since Vatican II, as the video report will show.

An excellent short book on false union with Rome is by Archpriest Alexey Young: The Rush to Embrace (St. Nikodemos Publication Society). It can be found in many Orthodox bookstores. Also recommended is Against False Union by Dr. Alexander Kalomiros.

St. Mark of Ephesus
Read about his involvement in the Council of Florence, and the aftermath to his repose...

A Protest to Patriarch Athenagoras: On the Occasion of the Lifting of the Anathemas of 1054. See also the numerous Sorrowful Epistles and other writings of Metropolitan PHILARET.

Are Protestantism and Roman Catholicism Heretical?: compiled by Patrick Barnes.

Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs (1848): A Reply to the Epistle of Pope Pius IX, "to the Easterns."

Patriarchal Encyclical of 1895: A Reply to the Papal Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII (1895) on Reunion.

Video Report: "The Role of the Vatican in the Continuing Inter-Religious Movement and the Great Fall of the Orthodox Ecumenists."

A Desperate Appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch: by the Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos (1968). On hasty false union with Rome.

St. Gregory Palamas and the Pope of Rome: from an Orthodox Tradition Q&A, vol. XIII, no. 2. "Hesychasm is a direct condemnation of Papism."

Florence 2000?: An Open Letter To All Roman Catholics and Orthodox On The State of Rome and Orthodoxy, by Father Alexey Young.

Papism as the Oldest Protestantism: by the Blessed Father Justin (Popovich)

"Branch Theory" Openly Preached at Recent Ecumenical Gathering. A report from L'Osservatore Romano, 30 June-1 July, 1998.

The Vatican and Russia, by Deacon Herman Ivanov-Treenadzaty. This article is very favorably cited by Hieromonk Patapios Hagiogregorites in a forthcoming article for Orthodox Tradition which touches on the Uniate problem. Appended to it is a short article on Josaphat the Malevolent, considered a Saint by the Roman Catholics.

The Tragedy of Our Uniate Brothers, by Hieromonk [now Bishop] Auxentios

Never, O man, is that which concerns the Church put right through compromises: there is no mean between Truth and falsehood. But just as what is outside the light will be necessarily in darkness, so also he who steps away a little from the Truth is left subject to falsehood.

—Letter to George Scholarios, (as quoted in Orthodox Word, III, p. 1)

There is one Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ, not more, nor even two; congresses other than this are synagogues of wicked men and a synod of dissenters; thus do we the true Christians think, thus do we believe, thus do we proclaim.

—Epistle 284, Against the Heresy of the Theopaschites
(as quoted by Elder Adrianos, formerly of the Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, in his "A Letter of Orthodox Confession")