Schism in Czech republic and Slovakia

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Jean-Serge
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Schism in Czech republic and Slovakia

Post by Jean-Serge »

This information is not mentioned on American sites, but the world orthodox church of Czech land and Slovakia has been de facto in a state of shism for several weeks. The events are the following :

April 12, 2013 : Metropolitan Christopher resigns after a campaign accusing him of immorality and having had sexual intercourse with a lady. The accusations later proved to be false the lady admitting she lied

A locum tenens is chosen, Simeon of Olomouc et Brno. But the process of election is delayed.

December 9th 2013: at the session of synod two bishops of Constantinople are invited by Simeon while 2 bishops of Moscow Patriarchate are invited by the other bishops. This session dismisses Simeon as locum tenens and gives this function to Rostislav Gont of Presov and Slovakia. Symeon immediately condemns this removal declaring the other bishops uncanonical and appealing to Bartholomew

January 11, 2014: election of Rostislav (only candidate) as new Metropolitan who receives the felicitations from Moscow. Symeon contests the election and writes to the Phanar that supports him.

The situation is all the more delicate that it comes in the context in which a bishop of the Phanar issues a text on January 7th, 2014, asserting the rights of the Phanar to grant and remove any autocephaly. It is the text "First without equals" available here.

Czech site supporting Symeon (some materials are in English) : http://www.pravoslavnacirkev.info/
Slovak site supporting Rostislav : http://www.orthodox.sk/

Letterof Symeon to Bartholomew denouncing the election.
Strangely, the election took place on January 11th, but the letter is dated January 10th! :?

Reactions from the Phanar and other churches are still expected but the year 2014 might be very hot in world orthodoxy.

Priidite, poklonimsja i pripadem ko Hristu.

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Re: Schism in Czech republic and Slovakia

Post by jgress »

Well this can go in list of evidence that the World Orthodox are not exactly free of petty scandals and schisms, as they so often like to present themselves.

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Jean-Serge
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Re: Schism in Czech republic and Slovakia

Post by Jean-Serge »

The new elected Metropolitan has now the support of Antioch that has recognized his election. A letter from John X of Antioch is congratulating him : http://www.orthodox.sk/?p=1296 Let us see who gets more allies.

Priidite, poklonimsja i pripadem ko Hristu.

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Barbara
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Re: Schism in Czech republic and Slovakia

Post by Barbara »

Why is there no move to reinstate Met Christopher if he was exonerated ?
This tussle sounds terrible.
Thanks for the news, I didn't know about any of this.

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