2016 World Orthodox Council - What is on the Agenda?

[Matthew]

Has anyone heard what changes and updates are being planned for discussion (perhaps leading to decisive action) at the 2016 Council of the World Orthodox?

I heard that there is a rumour that they plan to discuss:

1) abolishing all ancient liturgical languages from the regular services (no more Slavonic or Byzantine Greek, but rather modern Russian and Modern Greek)

2) that all World Orthodox get on the same page regarding the New Calendar, hence Russia/ROCOR would no longer follow the Church Calendar but the papist one (excluding the Orth Paschalion).

Are there any other things anyone has heard will be on the table?

Symeon

[Matthew]

I have also heard that they plan to discuss greatly reduce the obligations of Orthodox Christians in regard to observing the traditional fasts. I think they want to blend in the papist fake fasting rules which demand almost nothing so that union will be all the easier.

[Barbara]

I hadn't heard that about the services in Russian and Greek ! That's terrible. Is outrage !

Neither about the relaxing of the fasting rules. Hmm. Time for one of those emoticons with the rolling eyes !

[Matthew]

Well, we will see what really happens. But it looks like they are doing everything they can to "grease the skids" to get the Catholic-Orthodox Unia (Officially) off the ground. (they are already unified sacramentally -- which is the same as "TRULY-- since they have officially declared each other's Mystery of Baptism as being "One and the Same".) Now it is all just a matter of getting the people acclimatized to the secret that union has already happened so that they can end the charade that "Catholics and Orthodox are not yet unified" and just commune openly.

[Matthew]

Metropolitan Zizioulas' interview shows how ill-informed the World Orthodox people have become. They think we can lift anathemas, declare each others Mysteries to be "One and the Same" and equally true and saving (hence equally grace-bearing, which in turn implies necessarily that both have true priesthood and bishops) and yet not be in full communion. Duh! That is full communion whether or not you do it in the same building or at the same altar! All of this is just acclimatisation jargon and jostling. It has nothing really to do with "restoring communion and unity between the two Churches. The Orthodox are already in communion with the Latin heretics simply by lifting the anathemas and declaring even just one of their mysteries to be genuine and one in grace with our own. For from those two declarations all else is indicated and necessarily also confessed, even if they will not admit it as such yet, for fear of the people who still are not ready for a full disclosure.

http://nftu.net/john-zizioulas-meeting- ... communion/

[Jean-Serge]

Has anyone heard what changes and updates are being planned for discussion (perhaps leading to decisive action) at the 2016 Council of the World Orthodox?

I heard that there is a rumour that they plan to discuss:

1) abolishing all ancient liturgical languages from the regular services (no more Slavonic or Byzantine Greek, but rather modern Russian and Modern Greek)

2) that all World Orthodox get on the same page regarding the New Calendar, hence Russia/ROCOR would no longer follow the Church Calendar but the papist one (excluding the Orth Paschalion).

Are there any other things anyone has heard will be on the table?

Symeon

No, this is not a project and even to be discussed in the 2016 meeting. The different points to be addressed are the following

1. The Orthodox Diaspora.

1. The way in which autocephaly is granted.
2. The way in which autonomy is granted.
3. The diptychs (the order of honour of the Local Churches).
4. The Church calendar.
5. Canonical impediments to marriage.
6. Fasting.
7. Relationships with the heterodox denominations.
8. The ecumenical movement.
9. The contribution of Orthodox to affirming peace, brotherhood and freedom.

The initial document on each topic are currently re-written because they dated back from the 60s. It is almost sure that there will be no changes of the rule of fasting because the church of Georgia at least would veto it. The meeting should not change many things, in particular the calendar, because world orthodoxy want to prevent schisms. The key points for them are from 1 to 4 because it concerns the current fight for power within world orthodoxy.

[Matthew]

Thank you Jean-Serge,

I believe you have always accurate and up-to-date info, so I was likely misinformed.
However, this was just posted in NFTU

"It seems they wish to place this matter on the agenda of the false ‘Pan-Orthodox Council’ to be held in 2016 by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. In the United States and abroad, the World ‘Orthodox’ are seemingly degenerating into fights over women’s ordination, the acceptability of homosexuality, abortion, anticipation of union with Rome, and several other issue. The True Orthodox Christians, who began to separate from the official ‘World Orthodox’ bodies beginning in the 1920s, do not accept the allowance of debate or promotion of such ideas, and are thus distinct churches refusing to be in communion with the liberal Patriarchates."

for full article see:
http://nftu.net/world-orthodox-conferen ... ion-women/